National Governance and Investment Treaties

'There is a saying that 'no battle plan survives contact with the enemy.' After reading this book, you may think that 'no theory about investment treaties survives contact with reality.' Many international lawyers are content to analyse issues at the interstate level without getting their hands dirty with empirical evidence, particularly at a national and sub-national level. But when socio-legal scholars come along who are able to take us deep into the messy entanglement of actors, narratives and relationships in four different national contexts, we are able to develop a much more detailed, compelling and nuanced understanding of how investment treaties empower and constrain the behaviour of states. This book stands as a testament to how scholarship in this field is maturing and deepening.' Anthea Roberts, Professor at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), Australian National University 'A much-awaited empirical inquiry into the differential effects of investment agreements on national elites, governments, and democracies. A great achievement in socio-legal scholarship, an exciting world-tour into the local politics of investment treaties, and a real challenge to the current narrative of the subject. C'est à lire !' Antoine Vauchez, CNRS Research Professor, Université Paris 1-Sorbonne 'This original, fascinating book assesses the impact of international investment treaties and disputes within states in critically needed ways. It explains the role of key actors, processes, and their institutional and ideational effects. It grounds its analysis in detailed case studies of Argentina, the Czech Republic, India, and Mexico. It demonstrates the value of para-ethnographic socio-legal methods for understanding the operation and impact of the investment law regime, and the regime's implications for policy.' Gregory Shaffer, Chancellor's Professor, University of California, Irvine School of Law; President, American Society of International Law