International Political Economy and the Environment

Abstract

In this era of economic globalization, there has been remarkable growth in the volume and value of global trade, investment, and finance. These international economic relationships have important implications for the natural environment, as all have been identified as having some linkage to environmental quality. The extent to which these international economic relationships contribute to environmental problems or to solutions for environmental problems is the subject of extensive debate (see, for example, Boyce, 2008; Gallagher, 2009; Clapp and Dauvergne, 2011; Newell, 2012; Clapp and Helleiner, 2012). Some see the relationship as largely positive, with environmental benefits being attached to the economic growth that global economic transactions seek to facilitate. For these thinkers, environmental policies should be able to address any negative outcomes that may arise in ways that do not impede global economic activity. Others, however, see mainly negative environmental implications arising from global economic relationships and the economic growth that is associated with it. For them, it is important that environmental policies do restrict global economic transactions. A third view which seeks to bridge the divide is also gaining prominence, arguing that while there are some potential negative aspects of global economic relations for the environment, a balanced management of the global economy can bring both economic and environmental benefits.