Arlo Poletti

The Broken Promise of Global Advocacy addresses two key normative debates associated with the rise of transnational advocacy: whether global interest communities are biased in favor of wealthier countries; and whether the growth of global advocacy implies the emergence of a global civil society truly representative of global constituencies. The authors address these important debates using original data drawn from a large-scale project which maps all organized interests participating in two international venues: the World Trade Organizations Ministerial Conferences (1995–2017) and the United Nations Climate Summits (1997–2017). They leverage this unique dataset to carry out a systematic empirical assessment of contending views on the factors driving the rise of transnational advocacy. In doing so, the book demonstrates that cross-national differences in global interest representation largely mirror states’ economic power, and that global interest communities are likely to remain dominated by organizations representing national—rather than global—interests. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars working in comparative politics, public policy, governance, international relations, and international political economy.

The Broken Promise of Global Advocacy addresses two key normative debates associated with the rise of transnational advocacy: whether global interest communities are biased in favor of wealthier countries; and whether the growth of global advocacy implies the emergence of a global civil society truly representative of global constituencies. The authors address these important debates using original data drawn from a large-scale project which maps all organized interests participating in two international venues: the World Trade Organizations Ministerial Conferences (1995–2017) and the United Nations Climate Summits (1997–2017). They leverage this unique dataset to carry out a systematic empirical assessment of contending views on the factors driving the rise of transnational advocacy. In doing so, the book demonstrates that cross-national differences in global interest representation largely mirror states’ economic power, and that global interest communities are likely to remain dominated by organizations representing national—rather than global—interests. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars working in Comparative Politics, Public Policy, Governance, International Relations, and International Political Economy.

This book critically engages with a long tradition of scholarly work that conceives of the European Union as a peculiar international actor that pursues a value-based, normatively oriented and development-friendly agenda in its relations with international partners. The EU is a pivotal player in international trade relations, holding formidable power in trade but also exercising substantial power through trade. Trade policy therefore represents a strategic field for the EU to shape its image as a healthy economy and a global power. In this field, the EU has declared a twofold ambitious goal, namely that of fostering economic growth in Europe while, at the same time, promoting development and growth abroad, both in developed and developing countries. In other words, the EU aims to increase its competitiveness in world trade while acting as an ethical and normative power. Here, Poletti and Sicurelli explore the tension between these two roles.

This book critically engages with a long tradition of scholarly work that conceives of the European Union as a peculiar international actor that pursues a value-based, normatively oriented and development-friendly agenda in its relations with international partners. The EU is a pivotal player in international trade relations, holding formidable power in trade but also exercising substantial power through trade. Trade policy therefore represents a strategic field for the EU to shape its image as a healthy economy and a global power. In this field, the EU has declared a twofold ambitious goal, namely that of fostering economic growth in Europe while, at the same time, promoting development and growth abroad, both in developed and developing countries. In other words, the EU aims to increase its competitiveness in world trade while acting as an ethical and normative power. Here, Poletti and Sicurelli explore the tension between these two roles.

Judicial politics has emerged as a central feature of the multilateral trading system alongside a steep decline in the World Trade Organization’s ability to deliver negotiated trade liberalization. This book advances innovative arguments and presents original evidence to shed light on the important and surprisingly under-researched question of whether, and how, judicial politics has affected the prospects for cooperation in the WTO through multilateral trade rounds.

Winner of the 2018 ILAW Book Award from the International Studies Association (ISA). This book advances innovative arguments and presents original evidence to shed light on the important and surprisingly under-researched question of whether, and how, judicial politics has affected the prospects for cooperation in the WTO through multilateral trade rounds.

What role does the EU play in WTO trade negotiations? What are the implications for the EU of the expansion of the international trade agenda that has taken place in the last fifteen years? The European Union and Multilateral Trade Governance examines the EU's role in global economic governance and the negotiations of the Doha Round. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the EU’s role in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. The empirical study is grounded in a theoretically driven discussion, in order to understand trade politics dynamics in the present international economic system. By providing both conceptual and empirical arguments, the volume provides an innovative perspective on the analysis of the EU as a global economic influence. The European Union and Multilateral Trade Governance will be of interest to students and scholars of European Union politics and international political economy.

What role does the EU play in WTO trade negotiations? What are the implications for the EU of the expansion of the international trade agenda that has taken place in the last fifteen years? The European Union and Multilateral Trade Governance examines the EU's role in global economic governance and the negotiations of the Doha Round. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the EU’s role in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. The empirical study is grounded in a theoretically driven discussion, in order to understand trade politics dynamics in the present international economic system. By providing both conceptual and empirical arguments, the volume provides an innovative perspective on the analysis of the EU as a global economic influence. The European Union and Multilateral Trade Governance will be of interest to students and scholars of European Union politics and international political economy.