Plan for Today:Human Rights & Environmental Issues in IR1. Constructivist explanation for why

states sign/ comply with human rights conventions.

2. Introduce you to brief history of environmental issues in IR.

3. Familiarize with environmental conflict as one major approach to understanding environmental issues in IR.

“Liberal Constructivist” Explanation (Risse & Sikkink) Norms adopted through process of Norms adopted through process of

socialization – identity construction.socialization – identity construction. ““Norm entrepreneurs”Norm entrepreneurs”: NGOs, IOs, : NGOs, IOs,

some government agencies.some government agencies. Entrepreneurs often form Entrepreneurs often form

“transnational advocacy networks” “transnational advocacy networks” (TANs) (Keck & Sikkink).(TANs) (Keck & Sikkink).

X

“Boomerang Effect” of TANs(Risse & Sikkink)

Human rights

regimes & IOs

Western powers

Human rights INGOs

State X

Government

Domestic opposition NGOs

“Spiral Model” of Norm Adoption(Risse & Sikkink)1.1. RepressionRepression of human rights in a state. of human rights in a state.

2.2. DenialDenial of abuses. of abuses.

3.3. Tactical concessionsTactical concessions by state. by state.

4.4. Prescriptive statusPrescriptive status of human rights of human rights norms – state accepts norm and norms – state accepts norm and implements in policy.implements in policy.

5.5. InstitutionalizationInstitutionalization of norm: taken-for- of norm: taken-for-granted.granted.

Constructivist concept of “norm cascade” (Sunstein) Support for norm grows until Support for norm grows until

supported by enough actors to reach supported by enough actors to reach “tipping point” “tipping point” adoption by other adoption by other actors happens rapidly. actors happens rapidly.

Constructivist concept of “norm cascade” (Sunstein)

Debate about state motivations Debate about state motivations causing cascade:causing cascade:

1.1. State-centricState-centric: states adopt : states adopt formally to mimic other states but formally to mimic other states but don’t believe in norm.don’t believe in norm.

2.2. Nonstate actor-focusedNonstate actor-focused: nonstate : nonstate actors pressure states and actors pressure states and change public opinion.change public opinion.

“Liberal Constructivist” Explanation Problem:Problem:

(Moravcsik) Why are liberal (Moravcsik) Why are liberal democratic states not biggest democratic states not biggest proponents of HR conventions?proponents of HR conventions?

Response: Norm entrepreneurs Response: Norm entrepreneurs not primarily states.not primarily states.

Summary of Explanations for HR diffusionTheoryTheory How/ why How/ why

spreadspreadLogic of Logic of

compliancecompliance

RealismRealism DominationDomination CoercionCoercion

Liberal/ Liberal/

Domestic Domestic PoliticsPolitics

Voluntary Voluntary agreement of new agreement of new democratic statesdemocratic states

Rational self-Rational self-interestinterest

ConstructivismConstructivism Mobilization by Mobilization by norm norm entrepreneurs to entrepreneurs to change normschange norms

Active Active acceptance by acceptance by actors; actors; socializationsocialization

Brief History of Environment in IRNot considered relevant

to IR by most until 1980s. Precipitated by discovery

of growing hole in ozone layer over Antarctica, caused by CFC chemicals.

Realization that jointly created problem could threaten survival of all.

Brief History of Environment in IRMany issues of global environmental

degradation illustrate “tragedy of the commons” (Hardin 1968).Gains from exploiting resources

concentrated, while costs dispersed.Similar in ozone hole, global warming,

deforestation, ocean pollution, overfishing…

Brief History of Environment in IR

With ozone crisis, scholars began to see ramifications for international politics.

How can states resolve looming disasters, when divided by power, wealth, and responsibility for creating problems?

Rio Earth Summit (1992) largest diplomatic gathering in world history – IR took notice.

Brief History of Environment in IR Since then, theorists mostly trying to

understand environmental problems through traditional analytical frameworks of mainstream IR:

1. (Potential) Conflict.2. Negotiation of formal regimes and

agreements.

o Because of increasing environmental problems, conflicts based on them may become more frequent and serious.

o Conflicts likely more pronounced in poorer countries.

How might environmental problems lead to conflict? (Homer-Dixon)

1. Changing environment shifts resources and power relations among states.

2. Poor nations become fed up and demand greater share of the world’s resources.

3. Countries fight over water supplies and effects of upstream pollution.

E.g. Wazzani River, Lebanon

How might environmental problems lead to conflict?4. Environmental refugees from land-use

pressures/ disasters big strains on neighbouring countries.

5. Could exacerbate tensions in other conflicts (e.g. ethnic).