Reviews
... the mathematical rigor that Barrett brings ought to be beneficial and challenging even to those whose research generally rejects such approaches., As Scott Barrett notes in his important new book, the number of international environmental agreements has soared in recent decades, mainly because the international environmental impact of human activity has increased dramatically. Some of these agreements work effectively, while others are weak and ineffectual. Barrett's rigorous combination of game theory and environmental analysis illuminates the reasons for these successes and failures. Even more importantly, the book offers key tools for improved international environmental management in the years ahead, in an era when global wellbeing will depend critically on successful environmental statecraft., Apart from the immense coverage of past agreements, the main feature of Barrett's analysis is his use of game theory. Indeed, anyone wanting an introduction to this branch of mathematics and economics is unlikely to do better than work through the examples in this book., Barretts theory integrates a number of disiplines, including economics, negotiation analysis, and game theory, but he goes beyond exisiting literature on these topics by looking at their application to specific environmental problems...Barrett's lucidity and analysis of international environmental cooperation abd treaty-making make this book one of the most significant in its field in recent years...it should be staple reading for all international envirnomental scholars and policy makers, Environment and Statecraft is a craft of inventiveness, meticulous research, intellectual insight and surprise., This is an impressive book that should be of interest not only to those interested in the application of game theory to international relations but also to anyone interested in understanding how international cooperation can be promoted., 'Every now and again, a treatise appears that alters the way we see events. Scott Barrett's Environment and Statecraft is one such work. The book, more than a decade in preperation, is a craft of inventiveness, meticulous research, intellectual insight and surprise. Barrett's book is probablyone of the most important publications in the past few decades on global environmental problems. For students of politics, economics and the environment, and for negotitators and politicians, this book is to be carried around like a Bible. If I had written it, I would retire content that I had madea real difference.'Times Higher Education Supplement, Barrett provides a powerful theoretical framework for thinking about why some international environmental treaties succeed and others fail., Contrary to many theoretical analyses, Scott Barrett presents an ingenious theory of how nation states may be able to overcome dilemmas and protect transboundary environmental resources. Any thoery that successfully helps to explain international agreements regarding biodiversity, the ozone layer, global climate as well as diverse fisheries is a powerful theory. Students of international relations as well as of environmental science will have many useful lessons to learn from a careful reading of this book., Drawing on a range of intellectual disciplines including international relations, economics, international law, and game theory as well as a sweeping review of the existing set of environmental treaties, Scott Barrett offers a series of insights on what is required for successful global-scale environmental cooperation. The book will be a significant addition to the environmental literature., Scott Barrett has produced a readable, understandable, and successful application of elementary game theory to the incentives that determine whether international treaties succeed or fail, and to the incentives to participate and, if participating, to comply. Barrett's mastery of incentive theory makes a lot of puzzling issues clear. From fur seals to ozone to carbon dioxide he has a theoretical framework that makes impressive sense., "A truly important contribution to the literature on international environmental cooperation. Because in most parts its style is not too technical, it makes modern economics also accessible to nonexpert readers. Therefore, Barrett's monograph not only deserves to have many readers but can also be expected to get them."--Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics "In addition to making a significant contribution to the analysis of treaty commitments among states Barrett offers interesting analysis on the large inventory of environmental treaties currently in force."--Foreign Affairs "Environment and Statecraft is an extremely valuable contribution to the literature. As a descriptive matter, its rich and nuanced discussions of various treaties (including the North Pacific Fur Seal Treaty, Montreal Protocol, and Kyoto Protocol) significantly add to our understanding of these treaties. Barrett traces with skill and insight the policy challenges facing international lawmakers."--The American Journal of International Law As Scott Barrett notes in his important new book, the number of international environmental agreements has soared in recent decades, mainly because the international environmental impact of human activity has increased dramatically. Some of these agreements work effectively, while others are weak and ineffectual. Barrett's rigorous combination of game theory and environmental analysis illuminates the reasons for these successes and failures. Even more importantly, the book offers key tools for improved international environmental management in the years ahead, in an era when global wellbeing will depend critically on successful environmental statecraft.' -Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan Contrary to many theoretical analyses, Scott Barrett presents an ingenious theory of how nation states may be able to overcome dilemmas and protect transboundary environmental resources. Any theory that successfully helps to explain international agreements regarding biodiversity, the ozone layer, global climate as well as diverse fisheries is a powerful theory. Students of international relations as well as of environmental science will have many useful lessons to learn from a careful reading of this book.' -Elinor Ostrom, Co-Director, Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, and Center for the Study of Institutions, Population and Environmental Change, Indiana University Drawing on a range of intellectual disciplines including international relations, economics, international law, and game theory as well as a sweeping review of the existing set of environmental treaties, Scott Barrett offers a series of insights on what is required for successful global-scale environmental cooperation. The book will be a significant addition to the environmental literature.' -Dan Esty, Director, Yale Center for Environmental Law Policy 'Scott Barrett has produced a readable, understandable, and successful application of elementary game theory to the incentives that determine whether international treaties succeed or fail, and to the incentives to participate and, if participating, to comply. Barrett's mastery of incentive theory makes a lot of puzzling issues clear. From fur seals to ozone to carbon dioxide he has a theoretical framework that makes impressive sense.' -Thomas C. Schelling, Distinguished University Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, University of Maryland "Every now and again, a treatise appears that alters the way we see events in an important way. Scott Barrett's Environment and Statecraft is one of those works. More than a decade in preparation, Barrett's book is a craft of inventiveness, meticulous research, intellectual insight and surprise . . . . Barrett's book is probably one of the most important publications in the last few decades in the contect of
