Department of Politics at Princeton University

Alexander Ovodenko is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Politics studying international relations, with a focus on international environmental policy and international institutions. Alexander received his bachelor’s degree (with honors) from Cornell University, where he completed two senior theses, one of which received an annual prize. His past research has appeared in Security Studies and The Journal of Strategic Studies, and co-authored research has appeared in International Affairs. For more information about his research, please visit his webpage.

M.A., Princeton University; A.B. (hon.), Cornell University

Thesis Title: Pathways of Cooperation: International Governance of the Commons

Thesis Abstract: Why do some international environmental regimes have integrated institutions with participation from all interested parties but other regimes have independent institutions with only a fraction of interested parties? I show that preference convergence and divergence explain these outcomes. When countries share convergent preferences, they form regimes consisting of integrated agreements with all interested parties. When countries share divergent preferences, they form regimes consisting of independent agreements involving limited memberships, sometimes without the essential countries. Parties have convergent preferences when they share symmetric interdependence relationships and when environmental regulation involves minor adjustment costs and similar stakeholders. Otherwise, they share divergent preferences. I collected original quantitative data on international agreements managing global environmental problems and local water resources. I also conducted interviews and made field observations on the regimes for climate change and ozone layer depletion for focused comparisons. The analysis sheds light on how governments manage international political constraints in addressing environmental challenges. From a policy standpoint, this research suggests options for enhancing international cooperation on water resources and especially the global commons, including options for climate change governance.

Committee: Robert Keohane (chair), Christina Davis, Helen Milner