The role of compliance in effectiveness of international environmental regimes: A case of the Mediterranean Sea regime

Although in the foreign literature, compliance and regime effectiveness studies are among the main topics of International Relations and International Law, there are limited studies in the Turkish literature. This study is analyzed the importance of compliance for effective environmental regimes. This study argues that regime effectiveness has three dimensions: Legal effectiveness; behavioral effectiveness and problem-solving effectiveness. Compliance is only one dimension of effectiveness which is called legal effectiveness. The high rate of compliance is crucial but not enough for regime effectiveness. If, legal effectiveness which means compliance of states parties with regime is tried to pursue only; and, if there would not be a change in states parties' behaviors nor the problem regime is trying to solve could be overcame; it is not possible to regard an environmental regime as effective, despite of high rates of compliance, since dimensions of effectiveness are missing. This study analyzes the mechanisms to promote compliance. The analyses are showed that dynamics within the regimes requires different compliance mechanisms. Only well-designed mechanisms which are arranged according to the structure of problem, states parties' internal conditions and international structure could promote compliance. This study concludes that, neither the Managerial Approach and nor the Enforcement Approach could promote compliance by itself. The Mediterranean Action Plan was chosen as the case study of this thesis. After theoretical examination of compliance and effectiveness of environmental regimes, these subjects are examined in the example of the Mediterranean Action Plan according to their practical applications. It is concluded that, behavioral and problem-solving effectiveness of the Mediterranean Action Plan are low, while compliance rate is high. It is argued that this indicates a shallow cooperation in the regime. That is why environmental condition of the Mediterranean Sea cannot be improved. Keywords: Compliance, Compliance Mechanisms, Regime Effectiveness, Legal Effectiveness, Behavioral Effectiveness, Problem-Solving Effectiveness, Mediterranean Action Plan.