This book makes a significant contribution by showing that, undercertain circumstances, regimes can be created and changed by acombination of powerful but highly oversimplified 'publicideas' and transnational political entrepreneurs. The work isoriginal and the scholarship is sound beyond any question.
Edward L. Miles, Virginia and Prentice Bloedel Professor ofMarine Studies and Public Affairs, University of Washington
In telling the story of how an environmental organization initiated a regime for regulating radioactive waste disposal that went against both scientific consensus and the interests of powerful states and yet ultimately triumphed, this book challenges important conventional wisdom about how international environmental regulation happens. Ringius shows the power of public ideas and policy entrepreneurs in international negotiations in a way that has implications far beyond this particular case.
Elizabeth R. DeSombre, Environmental Studies and Government, Colby College
This careful analysis of the creation of the global ocean dumping regime in 1972 and its transformation in 1993 to include a ban on the disposal at sea of radioactive waste persuasively demonstrate the importance of public ideas, transnational coalitions of policy entrepreneurs, and environmental non-governmental organizations. The analysis contains important insights for international environmental policy. Forceful ideas and people and committed NGOs can make a difference.
Harold K. Jacobson, Jesse Siddal Reeves Professor of Political Science, Senior Research Scientist, and Visiting Professor of Law, University of Michigan
