UNITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOURSE - THE ROLE OF DECISION-MAKERS, EXPERTS AND CITIZENS IN DEVELOPING FINNISH ENVIRONMENTAL-POLICY

This article deals with the construction of the content and goals of F innish environmental policy. The basic issue is whether there are disc ourse and strategy coalitions of key players to be identified as well as interests with which the discourses and strategies coincide. In the study, 41 key players in the Finnish National Commission on Sustainab le Development were interviewed. The main result is that environmental discourses show diversity. Two ideal types of basic environmental pol icy strategies, termed 'ecological modernisation' and 'structural chan ge', were found. It is concluded that there is no easy starting point for unity in environmental policy making. However, additional research is needed to examine the relevant policy sectors from the broad viewp oint of social development and environmental politics.