Environment and the Development of Civil Society in the Caspian Region: The Role of NGOs

Abstract

In the Caspian region environmental NGOs have played a key role not only in advancing environmental concerns,but also in the formation of civil discourse and democratic structures. This paper focuses on the role of environmental NGOs in the Caspian littoral countries of the former Soviet Union (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,Turkmenistan and Russia) as well as in Georgia. It describes the history of the region’s environmental sector, discusses how environmental NGOs are working to improve the environment and develop civil society, and provides a case study of one effort to bring together regional NGOs to work specifically on Caspian Sea-related issues.