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Transnational environmental activism in central Asia: The coupling of domestic law and international conventions

Publication ,  Journal Article
Weinthal, E; Watters, K
Published in: Environmental Politics
September 23, 2010

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, local environmental activism in Central Asia was widespread. While environmental activists had managed to create mutually beneficial alliances with the titular elite during the Soviet period, these alliances disintegrated as the Soviet successor states became increasingly integrated into the international system. In their place, new transnational alliances emerged between local environmental activists and international non-governmental organisations. Yet, the ensuing transnational alliances did not merely entail international activists exerting pressure from outside on their domestic governments. Rather, local environmental activists have also carved out a separate realm for independent political action, facilitated by the coupling of national law with international conventions. Then, over time, environmental activism has moved from dependent activism to interdependent activism. In order to explicate the ways in which the coupling of national law with international conventions influences environmental activism and outcomes, evidence is provided from petroleum development at the Karachaganak and Kashagan oil fields in Kazakhstan and environmental activism in Turkmenistan. In particular, the authors examine how the 1998 Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (i.e. Aarhus Convention) has transformed environmental activism and domestic law in Central Asia. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Environmental Politics

DOI

EISSN

1743-8934

ISSN

0964-4016

Publication Date

September 23, 2010

Volume

19

Issue

5

Start / End Page

782 / 807

Related Subject Headings

  • Political Science & Public Administration
  • 4408 Political science
  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour
  • 1606 Political Science
  • 1605 Policy and Administration
  • 0502 Environmental Science and Management
 

Citation

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Weinthal, E., & Watters, K. (2010). Transnational environmental activism in central Asia: The coupling of domestic law and international conventions. Environmental Politics, 19(5), 782–807. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2010.508311
Weinthal, E., and K. Watters. “Transnational environmental activism in central Asia: The coupling of domestic law and international conventions.” Environmental Politics 19, no. 5 (September 23, 2010): 782–807. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2010.508311.
Weinthal E, Watters K. Transnational environmental activism in central Asia: The coupling of domestic law and international conventions. Environmental Politics. 2010 Sep 23;19(5):782–807.
Weinthal, E., and K. Watters. “Transnational environmental activism in central Asia: The coupling of domestic law and international conventions.” Environmental Politics, vol. 19, no. 5, Sept. 2010, pp. 782–807. Scopus, doi:10.1080/09644016.2010.508311.
Weinthal E, Watters K. Transnational environmental activism in central Asia: The coupling of domestic law and international conventions. Environmental Politics. 2010 Sep 23;19(5):782–807.

Published In

Environmental Politics

DOI

EISSN

1743-8934

ISSN

0964-4016

Publication Date

September 23, 2010

Volume

19

Issue

5

Start / End Page

782 / 807

Related Subject Headings

  • Political Science & Public Administration
  • 4408 Political science
  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour
  • 1606 Political Science
  • 1605 Policy and Administration
  • 0502 Environmental Science and Management