After the Antarctic Treaty entered into force, the United States Antarctic Program grew from an unstructured beginning and developed into an entrenched bureaucracy. The bureaucracy evolved its own interests, not all of which were consistent with national interests. As a result, a program with exemplary capacity struggled against internal squabbling, waste and inefficiency, leaving a gap between performance and potential.

The Introduction overviews current American interests and policies in the Antarctic.

Chapter One traces the history of America in Antarctica until 1961, when the Antarctic Treaty came into force.

Chapter Two describes tne development and operations of the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Chapter Three dissects the connection between policies and issues.

The Conclusion offers a diagnosis and prescription.