| Abstract [eng] |
Relatively weak interdependence of the states and unwillingness to limit one’s sovereignty determines inefficiency of global environmental regimes. This fact forms the main problem of the MA thesis. The MA thesis is based on the presumption that regional cooperation which is determined by the interdependence of the states allows to resolve current issues easier. Certain regions which have intentions to cope with common environmental threats may be especially interested in cooperation and establishment of environmental security complexes. Therefore, cooperation may encourage the further integration. The key question of the MA thesis is when and in what circumstances the environmental threats encourage regional integration? The additional question is what factors restrict the processes of regional cooperation on the basis of the environmental threats? The analytical parts encompass the analysis of cases of Nile and Mekong regions. The object of the research is the regional cooperation and its institutionalized forms, as a consequence of the environmental threats. The aim of the analytical parts of the thesis is to examine whether the environmental threats encourage the regional cooperation on three main conditions: - the environmental threats are regarded as existential issues by the states of the certain region; - cooperation in the environmental field creates an opportunity for the economic development of states; - the regions are influenced by the external actors, which provide a stimulus for environmental cooperation. The answer of the additional question is given a presumption that the national interests and unilateral policy of the states are the key subjects which restrict the processes of environmental cooperation. In order to answer the questions arose and to achieve the purpose of the thesis, the following tasks were set: - to discuss the concept and relevance of the environmental threats, the development of global environmental politics, the efficiency problems of the environmental regimes and the key aspects of the environmental security; - to review the causes of the international conflicts and environmental cooperation as well as integration in the international river basins; - to present the aspects of the regional security complexes’ theory which are relevant to the MA thesis; - to distinguish the criteria for the selection of the cases; - to review the historical context of the regions selected for the analysis indicating the cases of dispute between the states of region and estimating the potential of the regional integration; - to discuss and estimate the environmental threats related to the water scarcity in the selected regions; - to analyse the forms of cooperation concerning water scarcity in the selected regions. The research confirms the presumption that regional cooperation is encouraged by the relevance of the environmental threats, the expectations of the economic development of the states and the influence of external actors. The results of the analysis demonstrates that the main factor which restrains the processes of the environmental cooperation is the policy of the most powerful actors related to the national interests in the field of transboundary water management. MA thesis can be significant in grounding, verifying and elaborating the theory of regional security complexes and applying it to the research of the environmental cooperation. The thesis also provides with new insights which specify and complement the academic studies of environmental cooperation. MA thesis is intended to accentuate the whole of essential factors which is necessary for the proceeding of cooperation in anarchical atmosphere. On the other hand, academic literature lack research involving prognostic element which is related to the evaluation of the regional integration’s potential. Therefore, the MA thesis is intended to evaluate the perspectives of regional integration in the selected cases. |
