Partisan Politics, Interest Groups and International Commitments: The Ratification of Environmental and Labour Treaties

International treaties and regulations have flourished over the past century. But why are some states more likely to ratify international treaties than others? And does domestic politics influence international commitments?

This book seeks to answer these questions by examining the patterns and determinants of international treaty ratification in the areas of environmental and labour policy from the early twentieth century to the present. The book argues that partisan politics and interest groups play a significant role in explaining differences in international treaty ratification. It also demonstrates that the international commitments of industrialised democracies are heavily influenced by their domestic politico-economic characteristics rather than by their international linkages and interdependencies alone. These findings have important implications, as they highlight the ongoing importance of domestic constituencies in shaping international policy responses. The book will appeal to all those interested in international and comparative politics, sustainable development, and environmental and labour policy.

Kai Schulze is Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Political Science, TU Darmstadt, Germany.