Sustainable Development and Free Trade: Institutional Approaches / Edition 1

by Shawkat Alam

Overview

Examining institutions rather than themes, this critical book provides a comprehensive survey of the inter-relationship between trade-induced economic growth and the environment and its impact on the global quest for sustainable development.

Focusing in particular on the interests and concerns of developing countries and the skewing of international environmental policies into justifications for trade protectionism Shawkat Alam argues that environmental protection issues are inextricably linked with the economic development of developing countries whilst offering arguments for reforming the current international trade and environmental paradigms.

Covering contemporary developments on both a global and regional level in a systematic fashion and examining the United Nation’s approach to sustainable development, this book is of interest to those studying in a range of disciplines, including development studies, environmental economics, the politics of international trade and environmental politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415412940
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/31/2007
Series:	Routledge Studies in Development Economics , #63
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Shawkat Alam is Lecturer in Environmental Law at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

Table of Contents

1. Establishing the Linkage: The Trade-Environment Interface 2. The United Nations' Approach to Trade, the Environment and Sustainable Development 3. GATT/WTO Approaches to Trade, the Environment and Sustainable Development 4. The Trade-Environment Linkage in the Post-Urugay Round Context 5. Regional Approches to Free Trade and Sustainable Development: The European Union 6. Regional Approaches to Free Trade and Sustainable Development: The North American Free Trade Agreement 7. Regional Approaches to Free Trade and Sustainable Development: The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 8. Trade Restrictions Pursuant to Multilateral Environmental Agreements 9. Free Trade and Sustainable Development: Challenges Ahead

Editorial Reviews

"The approach of the book has been different from the existing literature. It has an institutional approach to clearly analyze the distinction between developed and developing countries' position and the fact that the latter became more vulnerable through these institutional initiatives to protect the environment. The author thereby has shown that the actual objective of sustainable development has not been achieved, on the contrary it has been defeated. [...The] book has substantiated the literature on this debate through the consolidation of major empirical cases and by providing the main policy implications, therefore contributing significantly to the literature." —Rupamanjari Sinha Ray, Management Development Institute, India

From the Publisher