Domestic sources of international environmental policy: industry, environmentalists, and U.S. power

Environmentalists, and U.S. Power is an accessible, interesting, clear, and important book.DeSombre argues that successful internationalization of US domestic environmental regulations requires a coalition of environmental and industry actors, the latter acting out of fear of the competitive advantage foreign ªrms gain when not subject to similar environmental regulations.DeSombre then expands her argument to state that internationalization attempts are most likely to be successful when a credible threat of import sanctions has been posed in an area in which the US represents a dominant market for the state subject to internationalizing pressure.The credibility of this threat, in turn, rests upon the dynamics of the coalition of industry and environmental actors.The book is written in a style that makes the information appropriate and relevant for a wide body of readers.This work is thorough and, simultaneously, broadly grounded in a number of disciplinary subªelds.Whether one approaches from a domestic or international policy perspective, or with knowledge of political economy, international relations, or environmental studies, DeSombre's book is a meaningful addition to understanding the internationalization of domestic environmental policies.The book is able to speak to each of these audiences in their own language: it is replete with policy implications, economic discussion, game theory and international relations theory, all while maintaining an oft-neglected focus on resource conservation.DeSombre's examples are wisely chosen: they are pertinent and widely varied, and, thus, offer a broad scope and basis for understanding.The selected case areas, endangered species, air pollution, and ocean ªsheries, are examined in detail, allowing for a comparison both within and among issue areas.Relying upon the Baptist (environmentalist) and bootlegger (industry) dynamic makes for organizational clarity.This dichotomy, coupled with DeSombre's insightful discussion about the sources and the success of internationalization, allows one to examine the internationalization process in a systematic and methodical manner.However, reliance upon the Baptist and bootlegger dichotomy as an explanatory framework has a ºaw: it excludes other actors who may impact the in-