Power in the International Investment Framework

by Maria A. Gwynn

Overview

This book offers a unique analysis of bilateral investment treaties (BITs). By developing a new, power-focused paradigm for understanding the international investment framework, the author illustrates why there was no paradoxical behaviour when developing countries agreed to the BIT regime, and what has spurred their reaction against it now. She also examines how attempts to regulate investment at a multilateral level have failed, and why the rules of the framework are evolving. Inspired by the work of Susan Strange, Gwynn fills a significant lacuna in our understanding of these issues by demonstrating how power determines the actions of all those involved. This holistic reinterpretation of international investment focuses in particular on Latin America, but has wider implications for the negotiation of new treaties, including such controversial provisions as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. It will appeal to lawyers, economists, political scientists and scholars ofLatin America. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781137571434
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan
Publication date:	07/26/2016
Series:	International Political Economy Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	243
File size:	381 KB

About the Author

Maria A. Gwynn is Oxford-Princeton Global Leader Fellow, and is affiliated to the University of Princeton, USA, and the University of Oxford, UK.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. The Historical Developments of International Investments (Pre-BITs.- Chapter 2. Relative Power in the Regulation of International Investments at the Multilateral Level.- Chapter 3. BITs in Practice: An Empirical and Comparative Analysis of South American countries’ BITs.- Chapter 4. Governments’ Intentions and Reasons for entering BITs into force.- Chapter 5. Structural Power in the Regulation of International Investments at the Bilateral Level.- Chapter 6. Lessons for the US-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).- Conclusion.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Maria Gwynn's analysis of the making of investment treaties and outcomes thereafter in the light of the experience of Latin American states provides a novel explanation of a controversial area of international investment relations. Her use of structural power relations is analytically more capable of explaining the course of events relating to investment treaties that are taking place in Latin America.” (M Sornarajah National University of Singapore, Singapore)

“In this book, Maria Gwynn provides an original and fascinating analysis of the international investment framework through a lens of power. This allows for novel explanations of the framework. Her impressive grasp of political and legalconcepts makes this book an important contribution to international scholarship.” (Maria Behrens, Bergische Universitat Wuppertal, Germany)

“Maria Gwynn presents a remarkable volume on BITs that effortlessly weaves together historical analysis, comparative work, empirical data and high theory. Its significance goes way beyond its actual object of study, the BITs of Latin American countries, and it has important lessons to teach in the contemporary debate on TTIP.” (Stefan Vogenauer, Max-Planck-Institut für europäische Rechtsgeschichte, Germany)