Browsing by Subject "Baltic Sea"

Background: The 1974 Helsinki Convention on Marine Protection of the Baltic Sea Area is one of the world’s most successful and comprehensive international environmental agreements. The purpose of this work is to explore how and why a new non-binding Helsinki Convention was renegotiated in 1992 during a period of great political upheaval in the Baltic Sea area and how politics, law, and environmental cooperation were intertwined in this process. Methods: This work strives to show evidence of 'leader-lagger' dynamics in motion evolving from different environmental and political traditions in littoral states that led to a non-binding convention result when one of the stated purposes of the renegotiation was to draw up more stringent rules. This work analyses how key leader countries used their powerful positions to dominate the renegotiations, instituting regime change in the Baltic Sea Region as well as the non-binding result. The main source materials used are the archives of the Finnish Foreign Ministry and the Baltic Marine Environmental Protection Commission, better known as HELCOM. Results: Evidence of leader countries exerting influence over lagger states in the renegotiation. Also, renegotiations brought forth a change of regime in regards to the HELCOM institution, as non-state actors enter and play a prominent role. Politics played a role in how law and environmental cooperation were institutionalized as a result of the renegotiation. Conclusion: Political context is important when analysing international agreements, without context it is difficult to comprehend why some decisions are taken in particular circumstances.