ABSTRACT

Can green states exist in a non-Western context? Much research has been focused on environmental politics in advanced industrialized economies, and the associated institutions, policy, and resources available for environmental protection efforts. Outside this narrow context however, we know far less about the progress states have made in developing their national systems of environmental governance. This gap in our understanding is particularly evident when it comes to the post-Soviet context. Using a case study of Georgia, this analysis evaluates environmental governance capacity in a transition state drawing on a framework derived from the green state literature. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia has faced considerable political and economic upheaval, and in the midst of it all, the country has embarked on an ambitious program of environmental reform. The findings suggest that while the basic internal foundations of a green state exist, including considerable policy and legislative development and solid environmental financing, key challenges remain. These are centered on an unstable institutional environment, and weak policy enforcement. However non-state actors such as NGOs and international organizations provide crucial support and are likely to remain essential in building and maintaining environmental capacity in the future.

摘要

绿色国家能否存在于非西方背景下？许多研究都集中在发达工业化经济体的环境政治，以及可用于环境保护工作的相关机构、政策和资源上。然而，在这个狭隘的背景之外，我们对各州在发展其国家环境治理体系方面取得的进展知之甚少。当谈到后苏联时代时，我们理解上的这种差距尤为明显。本分析以格鲁吉亚为例，利用源自绿色州文献的框架评估过渡州的环境治理能力。自 1991 年苏联解体以来，格鲁吉亚面临着相当大的政治和经济动荡，在这一切之中，该国已着手实施一项雄心勃勃的环境改革方案。调查结果表明，虽然绿色国家的基本内部基础存在，包括可观的政策和立法发展以及坚实的环境融资，但关键挑战仍然存在。这些都是以不稳定的制度环境和薄弱的政策执行为中心的。然而，非政府组织和国际组织等非国家行为者提供了至关重要的支持，并且很可能在未来的环境能力建设和维护中继续发挥重要作用。政策执行不力。然而，非政府组织和国际组织等非国家行为者提供了至关重要的支持，并且很可能在未来的环境能力建设和维护中继续发挥重要作用。政策执行不力。然而，非政府组织和国际组织等非国家行为者提供了至关重要的支持，并且很可能在未来的环境能力建设和维护中继续发挥重要作用。