{"product_id":"the-backlash-against-investment-arbitration-michael-waibel-9789041132024","title":"The Backlash Against Investment Arbitration: Perceptions and Reality","description":"\u003cp\u003e One may debate whether the tremors of a systemic crisis in investment arbitration are real, and, if so, of a great enough magnitude to shake its foundations, but it is no longer possible to deny that the current system is coming under intensive scrutiny. International lawyers, who recognize the indispensability of a well-functioning system for settling investment disputes, should be concerned about enhancing the legitimacy and functionality of investment arbitration. A well-calibrated response to the challenges facing investment arbitration is essential to ensuring its long-term future. Critics must be answered; enquiries made; reassessments undertaken. If crucial questions continue to be ignored, or simply glossed over, the strength of, and consequences flowing from, the backlash are likely to be greater in scale. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e This book, which grew out of a conference held at Harvard Law School in April 2008, aims to uncover the concerns driving the backlash against the present international investment regime. Thirty-one contributors and#8211; academics, practitioners, government officials and representatives of civil society and#8211; analyze both the current state and future direction of the international investment regime, and offer valuable insights into possible ways of improving the system. The concerns fuelling the backlash, and addressed in this book, include: \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e shrinking of domestic policy space; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e competitive pressures to sign investment treaties as a reason why increased investment flows may prove elusive; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e inflexibility of treaty obligations and lack of coordinated responses to changing circumstances, especially in financial crises; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e renegotiation and termination of bilateral investment treaties; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e lack of democratic accountability and pro-investor bias; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e pervasive secrecy and confidentiality of arbitral proceedings; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e conflicts of interest and the continuing quest for effective rules governing the conduct of arbitrator and counsel; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e reassessment of the traditionally perceived advantages of arbitration, such as speed, low cost, and neutrality; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e the extent of protection afforded to shareholders in connection with denial of benefits clauses; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e third parties as representatives of the public interest or advocates for organized private interests; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e relationship between EU law and BITs; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e restrictions on international arbitration in constitutional law; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e investment tainted by corruption; \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e transfer of funds clauses and exchange controls; and \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e the practice of forum shopping \u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e Premised on the belief that an investment arbitration regime which is in listening mode and ready to adapt may draw tremendous strength from constructive criticism, the questions considered by the contributors, and relating to the sustainability and future direction of investment arbitration, demand serious attention from all stakeholders. The reforms and refinements suggested promise to bring substantial improvements to the present regime and, in so doing, could reverse the current trend towards a backlash. All stakeholders in investment arbitration will welcome and learn from this work. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Michael Waibel, Asha Kaushal, Kyo-Hwa Chung\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 9041132023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9789041132024\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Kluwer Law International\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/18\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 614\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.45lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 1.44d","brand":"Michael Waibel","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44079546859775,"sku":"9789041132024","price":206.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_24b5695e-8592-4602-9c7c-735966b8809d.jpg?v=1685481769","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-backlash-against-investment-arbitration-michael-waibel-9789041132024","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}