Topic: Dynamic Social Network Analysis of the Formation of International Environmental Regimes

Speaker: Professor Joseph Galaskiewicz

Department of Sociology, The University of Arizona

Time: 10:00-11:30am, Monday, June 14, 2010

Location: Room217, New Building of GSM, Peking University.

Welcome to attend!

Authors:

Yoshiki Yamagata, National Institute for Environmental Studies

Jue Yang, National Institute for Environmental Studies

Joseph Galaskiewicz, University of Arizona.

Abstract:

In this paper, we study the formation of international environmental regimes using econometric models and social network analysis methods. Empirical research on the ratification of international environmental agreements has shown that the decisions are related to the level of domestic politics and the degree of democracy and economic development (Congleton, 1992; Murdoch and Sandler , 1997). This paper provides evidence that the network position of the country in international society impacts the decision of ratifying treaties. To test the hypothesis we estimated logit and hazard models using national social-economic data and the networks formed among countries. The results confirm that the ratification decision depended on 1) the extent to which countries were linked to other countries, vis-a-vis their ratification of earlier environmental treaties, which had ratified the treaty earlier, 2) the presence of international environmental NGOs branches/affiliates/offices on their shores, 3) and the prior ratification of the treaty by countries with a similar religious tradition.

Speaker’s Biographical Sketch:

http://sociology.arizona.edu/faculty/galaskiewicz/vita.pdf