STV4214B International Environmental Governance
Thursday 19. April 2012
Answer part I and any three of the questions under part II. Your answers to both parts of the exam must pass. Your answer to question I will count 60 per cent of the exam grade, your answers under part II will (taken together) count 40 per cent.
I
What characterizes “politically malign(ant)” problems? In his book Global Warming Gridlock, David G. Victor diagnoses climate change mitigation as a (highly) malignant problem and argues that the UNFCCC/Kyoto-track negotiations will not be able to cope effectively with such a demanding governance challenge. What are the main limitations of the UNFCCC/Kyoto-track approach in dealing with this type of problem? What kind(s) of approaches or measures might help overcome the current “gridlock”?
II
- Why may we consider the United States to be a pivotal actor in most cases of global environmental governance? Give at least two reasons!
- Compare the views of the “managerial” school and the “enforcement” school concerning the importance of reputation effects for compliance with international environmental agreements (IEAs).
- How can countries be induced to participate in international environmental agreements? Give at least one example of an existing IEA using such inducements. .
- What are the main differences between “science” and “politics” understood as distinct systems of activities? Which types of dynamics may be generated when the two systems are coupled (interact) in the context of policy-making processes?
- Why is regulation by incentive, in most circumstances, considered a more cost-effective approach than regulation by directive – in particular, directives applying the same rule to all parties? Identify one type of problems (or situations) in which governments may nevertheless have strong reasons for adopting regulation by directive.