Preface

This report is the result of a research on East-East cooperation among environmental NGOs in Central Europe. It is the master thesis of my study environmental sciences at the Wageningen Agricultural University and was supervised by the department of Sociology from this university. The empirical research was done at and sponsored by the Regional Environmental Center's head quarters in Budapest - Hungary. During the empirical research period, November 1995 - March 1996, I worked with the Earmarked Grants Team of the Regional Environmental Center. They have been great colleagues and are among my best friends right now. Dear Team, lots of thanks for your input and support!!

The other counterpart and final responsible institution for my research is the department of Sociology of the Wageningen Agricultural University. I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. A.P.J. Mol, for his useful critics and his ability to give me the freedom to do the research in my style and on my way.

The actual subjects of this research are the East-East cooperative environmental NGOs and their activists. Without the willingness, flexibility and kindness of the environmental activists, who I interviewed, this report would not exist. It was great to find so many congenial 'green' spirits during the research. Thanks a lot to all interviewed people, who spend their time and energy to provide me with the requested information.

Very grateful I am to Peter Zinn who gave the permission to use his brand new computer, which was of big practical importance. Then I would like to thank Ditta Toth for copy-editing the side report and Nina van Zanen for proofreading this report.

Finally I have to admit that I could not have done the research and write the report without the emotional support and love of Elke Wisseborn and Giel Verbeeck.

Christy Duijvelaar
Wageningen, May 15, 1996.


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