Institutional reform and transboundary cooperation for environmental planning along the United States-Mexican border

The central question this dissertation addresses is to what extent institutionalization of public participation, binationalism, and sustainability has enhanced interorganizational networking and cooperative behavior along the United States-Mexico border. The main assertion is that the institutional regime created post-NAFTA to improve the border environment has triggered transboundary cooperation among local environmental organizations. Using the San Diego-Tijuana border area as a case study, this research explores the frequency, intensity and variety of existing transboundary linkages and their relation with the new border institutions.; Two bilingual surveys were conducted for this study. A web-based survey of border experts was conducted to evaluate the integrity of the new institutional framework. A second survey of organizations was conducted to assess the impact of the new institutions on transboundary collaboration.; The evidence from the surveys indicates that there is a firm assessment among border organizations that the environmental situation of the region has changed positively in recent years. The organizations in San Diego and Tijuana perceive changes in the power configuration that molds decision-making; recognize more opportunities to obtain information, education, and other resources; acknowledge a greater local capacity to formulate, implement and monitor collective action to protect the border environment; perceive the emergence of effective institutional structures supporting local initiatives; and are aware of organizational arrangements based on cooperation and binationalism.; This study revealed a dense interorganizational network, including high profile transboundary partnerships and significant cross-sectoral interactions in the San Diego-Tijuana area. These findings neither fit well within a regional scenario characterized by deep asymmetries and divergent assessments of the environment—as occurs in the United States-Mexico border—nor do they match the generalized perception that rudimentary arrangements are the only alternative available for overcoming border barriers to networking and cooperation.; These observations encourage further investigation of the potential of institutional innovation in bridging the asymmetries characteristics of the US-Mexico border, and of the opportunities to further strengthen crossborder cooperation as a mechanism to promote integrative environmental planning in border regions.