Transnational actors and foreign policy: A comparative analysis of Environmental Transnational Coalitions

This dissertation examines why there is variation in Environmental Transnational Coalitions' (ETCs') ability to influence foreign policy. It explains when and how ETCs are more likely to pressure states to make policy decisions favorable to their interests. This study reveals attributes of a changed and changing type of transnational relations, and therefore can contribute to a better understanding of world politics today.; The primary method utilized in this project is the case-oriented comparative methodology. The cases selected include the analysis of the following: ETCs' efforts to reduce the impact of commercial tuna fishing on dolphins, ETCs' ability to obtain an international agreement to ban the trade in ivory, examination of an ETC's involvement in international institutions regarding international forest conservation, and ETCs' efforts to organize an international embargo against Nigerian oil products. Each of these cases highlights attempts by one or more ETCs to influence foreign policy. The first two cases illustrate ETCs' ability to influence foreign policy and the latter two cases illustrate their inability to affect foreign policy. The ability or inability of ETCs to pressure states suggests that the practices of these coalitions have different effects on states.; The cases demonstrate that when ETCs were successful, they played an important role in shifting public and political attitudes towards the environment. They did so by placing environmental issues high on the political agendas of states. These ETCs publicized the nature and seriousness of such issues, while acting as conduits for the dissemination of scientific research. They also organized and orchestrated pressure on states and international organizations. When successful, they worked at the local level to influence municipalities and multinational corporations. In addition, they worked to keep issues before the public with the hope that they would put more pressure on governments to change their policies.