Political Cooperation and International Environmental Governance in the Baltic Sea Region after World War II

Today, global environmental problems have become one of the most important international issues. This Master's thesis is about international environmental and political cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region after World War II. The Baltic Sea is surrounded by nine states and the degradation of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea has become a common problem. However, international environmental cooperation depends on many political factors: financial support, international organizations, the attitude of states, international law and the status of environmental issues in the international arena. This thesis focuses on different forms of political cooperation which have influenced international environmental governance in the Baltic Sea area. These forms of political cooperation include that of the Cold War political situation, despite the division between the East and the West, increased cooperation after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Helsinki Commission and the European Union. International environmental cooperation needs an appropriate political environment where states around a sea have incentives and will to protect the environment. The Baltic Sea is a good example of international governance of a maritime environment.