1. Plan for Today: Human Rights & Environmental Issues in IR 1. 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.

2. “Liberal Constructivist” Explanation (Risse & Sikkink)  Norms adopted through process of socialization – identity construction.  “Norm entrepreneurs”: NGOs, IOs, some government agencies.  Entrepreneurs often form “transnational advocacy networks” (TANs) (Keck & Sikkink).

3. X “Boomerang Effect” of TANs (Risse & Sikkink) Human rights regimes & IOs Western powers Human rights INGOs State X Government Domestic opposition NGOs

4. “Spiral Model” of Norm Adoption (Risse & Sikkink) 1. Repression of human rights in a state. 2. Denial of abuses. 3. Tactical concessions by state. 4. Prescriptive status of human rights norms – state accepts norm and implements in policy. 5. Institutionalization of norm: taken-for-granted.

5. Constructivist concept of “norm cascade” (Sunstein)  Support for norm grows until supported by enough actors to reach “tipping point”  adoption by other actors happens rapidly.

6. Constructivist concept of “norm cascade” (Sunstein)  Debate about state motivations causing cascade: 1. State-centric: states adopt formally to mimic other states but don’t believe in norm. 2. Nonstate actor-focused: nonstate actors pressure states and change public opinion.

7. “Liberal Constructivist” Explanation  Problem:  (Moravcsik) Why are liberal democratic states not biggest proponents of HR conventions?  Response: Norm entrepreneurs not primarily states.

8. Summary of Explanations for HR diffusion Theory How/ why spread Logic of compliance RealismDominationCoercion Liberal/ Domestic Politics Voluntary agreement of new democratic states Rational self- interest Constructivism Mobilization by norm entrepreneurs to change norms Active acceptance by actors; socialization

10. Brief History of Environment in IR Not 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.

11. Brief History of Environment in IR Many 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…

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. o Because of increasing environmental problems, conflicts based on them may become more frequent and serious. o Conflicts likely more pronounced in poorer countries. Environmental Conflict

15. 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.

16. E.g. Wazzani River, Lebanon

17. 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).