Role Theory, Environmental Politics, and Learning in International Relations: The Case of the Arctic Region

Sandra Engstrand uses role theory to study learning processes in environmental policy negotiations in the Arctic Council. She suggests that learning on environmental norms runs firstly through a learning of roles in international relations, and that states wishes to preserve their social role in a group and to be perceived as Arctic 'cooperators are drivers for a social education on environmental norms.

Format: Hardback
Length: 14 pages
Publication date: 02 July 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In her book, Sandra Engstrand delves into the realm of environmental policy negotiations within the Arctic Council, employing the insightful framework of role theory to unravel the intricate processes of learning. The Arctic region, characterized by the rapid melting of ice and the opening up of lucrative commercial opportunities, underscores the pressing need for robust environmental protection measures. However, the vast majority of the Arctic falls under the jurisdiction of individual states, leading to tensions and conflicts that hinder the full realization of effective environmental stewardship. To deepen our understanding of how states acquire knowledge about environmental norms, Engstrand conducts an in-depth examination of negotiation processes pertaining to the prevention of Arctic marine oil spills and the reduction of short-lived climate pollutants. Through a series of interviews with state representatives and a comprehensive analysis of nearly twenty years of meetings between Senior Arctic Officials from each of the eight Arctic states, Engstrand compellingly demonstrates that learning about environmental norms primarily occurs through the acquisition of roles in international relations. She showcases how member states evolve through self-reflection and by taking into account the expectations of others, ultimately concluding that states' desires to maintain their social role within a group and be perceived as Arctic "cooperators" serve as the driving forces behind a social education on environmental norms.

A timely and unparalleled volume, Role Theory, Environmental Politics, and Learning in International Relations, will captivate students and academic scholars alike in the fields of international relations, environmental governance, and Arctic politics. This comprehensive work offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex dynamics that shape environmental cooperation and governance in the Arctic, a region of immense importance and geopolitical significance.

Weight: 478g
Dimension: 156 x 237 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367351380