City Research Online

Abstract

Building upon the acceptance of divergence away from the multilateral geoeconomic order of the Bretton Woods, this article explores the observed and potential role for plurilateral agreements within international economic law. It contemplates some of the theoretical underpinnings of plurilateralism within international economic law, including economic efficiency, fragmentation, and network theory. From there, it examines the key iterations of plurilateralism both within and outside the World Trade Organization. The article offers an assessment of the WTO as a diplomatic forum for the negotiation of new plurilaterals, turning then to a critique of the idea of ‘convergent plurilateralism’ which postulates that overlapping elements within the megaregionals could represent a new alternative to the old era of multilateralism. The article urges that plurilateralism should not be viewed as an inferior model to multilateralism, but rather as one which is more cognizant of the complex realities of geoeconomics which characterize the modern era.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This article has been accepted for publication in Journal of World Investment and Trade published by Brill Academic Publishers. The version of record will be available online at: http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/22119000
Publisher Keywords:	fragmentation, pluralism, megaregionals, network analysis, efficiency
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory J Political Science > JX International law
Departments:	The City Law School The City Law School > Academic Programmes
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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