Common Heritage or Common Burden?: The United States Position on the Development of a Regime for Deep Sea-Bed Mining in the Law of the Sea Convention

This study presents a comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the U.S. role in the United Nations negotiations on the Law of Sea and on one of the remaining commons, the ocean floor beyond national jurisdiction. Drawing on material collected from interviews with many key negotiators, the study provides a better understanding of domestic and international decision-making procedures and the dynamics of international negotiations.