Product Description

`David Robertson supplies a definitive account - the
definitive account - of the economics and politics of global commerce. His
book is impressively informed about the vicissitudes of international trade
and rests on extraordinary knowledge of the treaties and institutions that
have governed its perilous course through recent decades. Unusually in a
work of such learning, the author openly confronts the enemies of free
trade. He exposes the self-interest of international lawyers and NGOs when
they attempt to restrict trade and his analyses of failings in the EU and
UN are hard to refute. International Economics and Confusing Politics is a
signal resource for anyone concerned with the management of the global
economy.'
- Eric Jones, Melbourne Business School, Australia and Netherlands
Institute of Advanced Study

The IMF, the World Bank and GATT/WTO have had to adapt to changing
circumstances in the past 60 years as they guided the world economy to
growing interdependence and prosperity. Now they face several simultaneous
challenges. In this book, David Robertson discusses the rise of new
economic players, including proliferating NGOs, self-promoting UN agencies
and `emerging' economies (such as Brazil, China and India), which call into
question the management of G7 governments.

This volume assesses the future of international economic relations as
economic imbalances are exacerbated by these developments and by changing
international alliances. The author also considers the interests of small
developing countries, which are acting collectively to seek `a place at the
table', as well as more preferential treatment. International socialism has
re-invented itself as `participatory democracy', which is employed by
`civil society' to challenge inter-governmental agencies. The future of
international economic integration will depend on how these developments
affect trade, finance, aid and development policies.

Providing a review of international economic relations, while taking
account of political, environmental and social issues, this analytical
assessment of anti-globalisation forces will be of interest to anyone
concerned with international affairs

Product Details

• Published on: 2006-07-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 230 pages