Maintaining balance in isolation
Work, values and moral debt in a French Antarctic expedition
Dados Bibliográficos
| ID | 8133734 |
|---|---|
| Autores | Susie Pottier (0009-0007-9656-4714, École Normale Supérieure - PSL, autor correspondente) |
| Ano | 2026 |
| Data de publicação | 2026-03-02 |
| Peer Reviewed | Sim |
| Open Access | Sim |
| Tipo | ARTICLE |
| Periódico | Ethnography (JOURNAL) |
| Identificadores do periódico | ISSN: 1466-1381 • E-ISSN: 1741-2714 |
| Editora | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/14661381261431985 |
| OpenAlex | W7133183422 |
| Idioma | EN |
| Referências citadas | 20 |
This article examines the social dynamics of Antarctic expeditions from the perspective of balance and moral debt. Based on 15 months of participant observation during the Dumont d’Urville’s TA70 expedition, it shows how cohesion and reciprocity are essential for adaptation in conditions of extreme isolation. Disruptions to the balance, resulting from conflicts or external pressures, cause winterers to adopt compensatory strategies which, although stressful, also promote creativity and resilience. The study contrasts institutional and individual definitions of a “high-performing” crew, highlighting the relative nature of crew success. By analysing informal norms, group dynamics and lived experiences of hierarchy, this anthropological research contributes to interdisciplinary debates on isolated and confined environments. It offers insights into how humans maintain cooperation under duress, providing comparative perspectives that can inform resilience strategies in other extreme contexts
Balance (ability · Cohesion (chemistry · Creativity · Debt · Perspective (graphical · Psychological resilience · Reciprocity (cultural anthropology · Reflexivity · Adventure Sports and Sensation Seeking · Polar Research and Ecology · Spaceflight effects on biology
| Velocidade de citação | historical |
|---|---|
| Altamente citado | Não |