International Economic Law, Globalization and Developing Countries

`In the galaxy of issues that developing countries are faced with in their international economic relations, this publication manages to focus on some critical areas of particular concern to developing countries. Moreover, the issues focussed on have a contemporary relevance touching as they do on financial reform, aid and IMF conditionality, international trade and investment, multinational corporations, competition, corruption, the environment and intellectual property issues. This is a comprehensive appraisal of development related problems in international economic relations written by practitioners and academics in the field.' - Asif Qureshi, University of Manchester, UK `This book is both breathtaking in its scope and impressive in its attention to legal and institutional detail in situating developing countries in the evolving body of international economic law. Essays in this volume canvas most important areas of international economic law, including international trade law, international financial regulation, the regulation of foreign direct investment and multinational corporations, foreign aid, the enforcement of human rights standards and core international labour standards on multinational corporations, international enforcement of anti-corruption conventions, international competition law, international intellectual property rights, and international environmental law. A pervasive theme, compellingly developed, in most of these papers is the asymmetric structure of international institutions that generate rules in these various areas, in which developing countries are mostly rule takers, rather than equal participants. The current global financial crisis may provide a welcome opportunity for re-evaluating these institutional asymmetries. In any such re-evaluation, this book will provide a veritable cornucopia of constructive new insights.' - Michael Trebilcock, University of Toronto, Canada International Economic Law, Globalization and Developing Countries explores the impact of globalization on the international legal system, with a special focus on the implications for developing countries. The onset of the current process of globalization has brought about momentous changes to the rules and processes of international law. This comprehensive book examines a number of these changes, including the radical expansion of international economic law, the increase in the power of international economic organizations, and the new informal approaches to law-making. The greater reliance on judicial and arbitral mechanisms, and the proliferation of international human rights instruments, many of which have a direct bearing on international economic relations, are also discussed. The contributors to this book are all prominent experts in the fields of international law and international political economy, drawn from both developing and developed countries. This insightful book will appeal to scholars and advanced students with an interest in international law, development studies, international political economy and international governance. It will also be an indispensable tool for practitioners - including members of leading international NGOs, international lawyers, political scientists and international development specialists.