Abstract:
On April 2, 1982, Argentine forces overran the British-controlled Falklands, thus triggering a confrontation between the two nations over possession of the barren South Atlantic islands. Part A of this case presents a historical account of the British-Argentine dispute over the Falkland Islands from the late 17th century up to the Argentine invasion. The bulk of the narrative discusses the UN-spurred negotiations between the two nations from 1965 on, focusing on the positions and interests of the two sides, in light of both domestic and international considerations.
Learning Objective:
In this case, students are asked to explore the following issues: 1) Which country had the stronger international legal claim to the islands? 2) Where were there "windows of opportunity," if any, for forging a diplomatic solution? 3) What were the key impediments to successful resolution of the negotiations? 4) Why did British intelligence not anticipate the Argentine invasion? 5) Why did the Argentines not anticipate Britain's aggressive reaction?
