Karin Bäckstrand is a Swedish political scientist and professor at Stockholm University whose work centers on the democratic legitimacy and accountability of global environmental governance. She is known for her analyses of multi-stakeholder partnerships, non-state actor participation, and deliberative democracy within international climate institutions. Her research has shaped scholarly debate on how transnational governance can be made more inclusive and democratically credible.
Developed influential frameworks for evaluating democratic legitimacy in global environmental governance
Authored foundational research on multi-stakeholder partnerships in UN climate negotiations
Advanced the concept of 'civic republicanism' and deliberative democracy in earth system governance
Contributed to Earth System Governance Project scholarship on accountability and representation
Analyzed the role of non-state actors in the UNFCCC process and the Paris Agreement architecture
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