The Greening of Internationalism: From Growing Impact Crisis to Stagnated Reconciliation Project

Abstract

How and in what ways did we start to see the environment as a global political issue? Is it plausible to argue, with Liam Leonard (Global ecological politics, Emerald Group, Bingley, 2010, p. 1), that environmentalism is "the most significant contemporary global movement" to have emerged in recent decades? This chapter explores selective moments in the rise of an eventual stagnation associated with the greening of internationalism. Major concerns include the growing recognition of the environment in world political discourses and especially deepening concerns with threats posed by irreversible ecological limits across various global "commons." This chapter outlines key political efforts to address globally shared environmental problems over several decades of multilateral diplomacy. In addition, the discussion traces the recent stagnation and even reversal of the traditional Westphalian order in effectively addressing multiple green challenges to society and economy.