This volume looks at the way countries vary politically and assesses the impact this may have on response to global environmental issues, such as climate warming, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and trans-boundary air pollution. The book explores 5 large topics: state-society relations; environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs), Green parties, and environmental movements; institutions of government and policy-making; the range in capacities of nations to protect the environment; and national responses to global environmental problems. It contrasts and compares rich and poor nations, large countries and small, liberal democracies and authoritarian states. In the era of globalization, the authors argue that nations make the critical decisions affecting the global environment. Nations decide if to participate in international environmental agreements. Thus, understanding the global environmental future depends on an understanding of the domestic circumstances and national performance of states.