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States and International Environmental Regimes

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Examine IR theories that focus on states as units of analysis in explaining cooperation ... Cooperation unlikely (although 'not impossible' ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: States and International Environmental Regimes


1
States and International Environmental Regimes
2
Today
  • Examine IR theories that focus on states as units
    of analysis in explaining cooperation
  • Are these useful theoretical lenses?

3
Realism - Assumptions
  • Anarchic system no central authority self-help
  • States want to survive
  • States potentially dangerous (military
    capability)
  • Uncertain about intentions of other states
  • Rational strategic calculations how to survive

4
Realism Implications about state behavior
  • Maximize power
  • Fear each other
  • Follow own interest defined as security and
    maximization of RELATIVE power
  • War is means not an end
  • Non-security issues (particularly environment,
    human rights) of secondary, if any, importance
  • Cooperation unlikely (although not impossible)
  • Institutions irrelevant b/c reflect
    distribution of power

5
Neoliberal InstitutionalismAssumptions
  • States unitary, rational actors
  • Anarchy no government, but governance possible
  • States follow own interests
  • Interests can be issue specific (e.g. economy,
    environment, security, etc.)
  • Cooperation possible governance without
    government
  • Institutions important for cooperation

6
Role of Institutions
  • Facilitate Cooperation
  • institutionalize iteration (long-term
    calculations and reciprocity conducive to
    cooperation)
  • -provide information (monitor, change of
    strategy)
  • -credible commitments
  • -issue linkage
  • -reduce transaction costs (make agreements and
    monitoring less costly to administer)
  • -resolve distribution conflicts

7
Constructivism Assumptions
  • Society of states
  • Commonly accepted norms and principles (such as
    sovereignty, procedural rules in treaty
    negotiation matter)
  • Ideas influence definition of interests and
    regime formation
  • Power cannot be defined as a simple function of
    resources it is also situational

8
Structural Power vs. Bargaining Leverage
  • Structural power
  • F (security, production, finance, knowledge and
    ideas)
  • Bargaining power
  • F (strategic position, bargaining rules,
    coalitions)
  • E.G. Brazil and Indonesia may be low on
    structural power, but have a lot of bargaining
    power in biodiversity negotiations.

9
Key Differences
  • Definition of power
  • Definition of interests
  • Prospects for international governance
  • Role of institutions

10
Interpreting environmental cooperation
  • Realism?
  • -focus on hegemon, interests, power relations
  • Liberal institutionalism?
  • -focus on interests, institutions, effects
  • Constructivism?
  • -focus on norms, ideas, networks that spread
    ideas
  • Other factors?
  • -domestic politics non-state actors
    transnational actors
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