This work contributes to the study of ""international environmental law"", addressing its development over three time periods: the traditional period, the modern era, and the post-modern period. Kuokkanen's thesis is this: in the traditional period there was no clear distinction between the protection of the environment and the exploitation of natural resources; during the modern period the subjects became completely separated; and in the post-modern era there has been an effort to reconcile economic interests and environmental concerns. The work challenges the reader to think about international environmental law and its development within a broader framework, and through a lens which differs from that taken elsewhere. The book presents a panorama of the principal international legal developments over the 20th century in this area, pinpointing the tensions between environmental and economic objects.
