,This is a very welcome volume, and it will reach a large audience and readership among those involved in these issues from a truly multidisciplinary perspective; in essence, a much needed book!,Erik Bonsdorff, professor of marine biology at ,bo Akademi University, Finland,This timely volume provides a thorough account of how the highly advanced industrial societies seek to govern and manage the Baltic Sea. The way they proceed, and the degree to which they succeed, provide valuable lessons for riparian states seeking to avoid tragedies of their commons.,Lennart J. Lundqvist, professor of environmental policy and administration, University of Gothenburg, SwedenHow is a natural common pool resource such as a sea, which is shared by several countries, best governed? The potential for international conflict is immense, as each country may have different agendas with regard to issues such as exploitation and environmental protection. This book uses a case study of the Baltic Sea Region to examine this complex problem. The sea itself has been highly vulnerable to pollution and recently the bordering nations have begun to change their mode of cooperation to tackle this issue by establishing several new forums to manage the sea. Administrative and political structures developed in the region are reviewed and shown to provide a model that could be applied to other seas and natural resource systems elsewhere in the world.

Marko Joas is senior lecturer in political science and head of research in public administration atbo Akademi University, Finland. Detlef Jahn is professor of comparative politics at the University of Greifswald, Germany. Kristine Kern is visiting professor in the school of life sciences, S dert rn University College, Sweden.

Preface by Tuula Aarnio * Part I: Introduction * Governance in the Baltic Sea Region: Balancing States, Cities and People * Part II: Introduction and Institutionalization of Environmental Concerns within the Baltic Sea Region * Environmental Pollution and Economic Performance in the Baltic Sea Region * Institutionalization of an International Environmental Policy Regime: The Helsinki Convention, Finland and the Cold War * Environmental Concerns within the Baltic Sea Region: A Nordic Baltic Comparison * Environmental Governance in the Baltic States: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia * Part III: New Structures of Governance in the Baltic Sea Region * Governance beyond the Nation State: Transnationalization and Europeanization of the Baltic Sea Region * Local Governance for Sustainable Development: Local Agenda 21 in the Baltic Sea Region * Part IV: Interactions between Regional Governance for Conservation Policy and the Use of Local Livelihood * Regional Actors Caught between Local Livelihood and International Conservation: Grey Seal Conservation Controversy * Unity versus Disunity of Environmental Governance in the Baltic Sea Region * Part V: Conclusions * Governing a Common Sea: Comparative Patterns for Sustainable Development * Index