ABSTRACT
The concept of international regimes is not specific to, but frequently used in, the study of global environmental governance. Building on the definition by Stephen Krasner, specialists have defined environmental regimes as intergovernmental institutions that give rise to social practices, assign roles, and govern interactions to address situations of ecosystem degradation through overuse (for instance the fisheries governance) or through pollution (for instance the climate change regime) (Young et al. 2008). Regimes occupy an intermediary position. They are shaped by structures in place, including power distribution or prevailing ideas, but they also guide and constrain the behavior of actors.
