“Green theory” as an environmental approach in international relations studies

The article examines how the growth of global environmental issues influenced the formation of new theoretical approaches in studying of international relations. Environmental crisis and the emergence of “green” theorizing in the social sciences and humanities are analyzed, the influence of environmental issues and “green thinking” on the development of the theory of international relations is noted. The author shows how classical theories of international relations (neorealism and neoliberalism) contrast with the environmental direction (“green theory”) in studies of key issues of international relations. The environmental direction offers a number of reinterpretations of such concepts as environmental justice, security, and economical expansion. It is concluded that the “green theory” in international relations is an important and promising research direction, the significance of which should be recognized along with traditional theories of international policy.