2^nd Semester

The gap between the so-called North and South is getting bigger.  While developed countries, despite the current global financial crisis, are on average experiencing a period of economic development, the same cannot be said for most developing countries.  However, even between the latter there are major differences.  While some parts of Africa seems to be very dangerously falling again in violent crisis (see the current situation in Kenya) that one hoped belonged to the past, other areas are growing steadily and are becoming major players in current international relations.  Countries like , , and represent different continents but usually stand together to defend the interests of the developing world vs. the old North in international forums.  Furthermore, in some fields these countries are adopting policies that are being seen as models also in developed countries.  The fight against poverty in and the water reforms in and are just some possible examples.

Against this background of strong division between developed and developing countries this module will explore the international framework of policies and legal measures adopted by States and international institutions to bridge this gap.  In other words, students will be asked to critically engage with the following question: how is development fostered at an international level?

The first two sessions will be devoted to the study of the international organisations that have been created for this purpose and special attention will be devoted to those international financial institutions whose goal is to bring development.  Special attention will be then given to the work of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the field of development.  International trade is not confined only to the WTO, therefore regional trade agreements will also be analysed.  Finally, the module will dedicate one session to one of the main relationships between developed and developing countries: the link that arises through foreign direct investment.

None

The module will allow you to critically engage in all the questions related to the linkages between Law, International Trade and Development.  Getting acquainted with the international legal norms and policies that relate to development will open you a number of important working opportunities.  Experts in international financial, trade or investment law with knowledge of the development side of the equation are working in international law firms in consultancy, in non-governmental organisations and in the public sector, both at national and international levels.

At the end of the module, the student will be able to:

·             Identify the actors that take part in the shaping of international development policies

·             Highlight the role of the main international financial institutions within the development debate

·             Understand the tension between development issues and international trade

·             Understand the tension between development issues and foreign direct investment

·             Critically assess the ongoing negotiations and developments occurring in the international trade regime and their significance for developing countries

·             Highlight the key topics within the WTO that matter for development

·             Understand and assess the impact of foreign direct investment on developing countries

8 x 3-hour sessions spread across the seminar.

·             The Governance of International Development

·             Global Economic Governance and Development

·             International Trade and Development I: The World Trade Organization

·             International Trade and Development II: Agriculture and Subsidies

·             Regional Trade Organisations and Development

·             Foreign Direct Investment and Development

8 x 3-hour seminars.  The seminars will be interactive and students will be expected to come prepared for the seminar and engage actively in discussions.

Teaching will follow a dual approach.  In every session the lecturer will give some pointers highlighting the main issues that must be studies.  This will be followed by a discussion with the students on the reading.  Some questions will be given out by the lecturer to guide the discussion.  Learning will be achieved not only by preparing the lectures but by some parallel activities that will foster the interest of the students for the topic.  The viewing and discussion of videos related to LITD topics, the attendance to seminars given by specialists in the fields covered by LITD and further activities linked to the presence of the different research groups within the School of Law will benefit the students’ learning.

Texts

Beard, J. The Political Economy of Desire: International Law, Development and the Nation State (Routledge, 2007)

Salomon, M. Global Responsibility for Human Rights: World Poverty and the Development of International Law ( Oxford University Press, 2007)

Uprety, K. The Transit Regime for Landlocked States: International Law and Development Perspectives (World Bank, 2006)

French, D. International Law and Policy for Sustainable Development ( Manchester University Press, 2005)

Trachtman, J. The International Economic Law Revolution and the Right to Regulate (Cameron May, 2006)

Qureshi, A. H. International Economic Law (2^nd Edition, Sweet & Maxwell, 2007)

Sornarajoh, M. The International Law on Foreign Investment (2^nd Edition, CUP, 2004)

Bhagwati, J. In Defense of Globalisation (OUP, 2004)

Spero, J. & Hart, J. The Politics of International Economic Relations (Thompson, 1998)

Lowenfeld, A. International Economic Law (OUP, 2002)

Journals

Journal of Development Studies

Journal of World Trade

World Trade Review

Manchester Journal of International Economic Law

Journal of International Economic Law