Better Environmental Governance: A Function of Democracy or Authoritarianism?
John W. Sutherlin, Dale K. Willson

Abstract
This paper explores the ties between environmental policy and democratic versus authoritarian governance structures. Specifically, do authoritarian regimes represent an ‘efficient’ manner to improve environmental conditions over their democratic counterparts? Democracies often are tied up in so-called ‘bureaucratic red-tape.’ Can authoritarian systems offer a different approach that is more ecologically friendly? While leaving many ‘answers’ to future research, this paper poses significant questions for the future of global environmental governance.

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