Delivering on Promises: The Domestic Politics of Compliance in International Courts

Delivering on Promises by Lauren J. Peritz investigates the conditions that make international agreements and institutions vulnerable, and demonstrates that international economic courts are effective at promoting interstate cooperation, but only under certain conditions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

A comprehensive examination of the factors that render international agreements and the institutions responsible for their enforcement vulnerable is urgently needed. While the international system lacks a central governing authority, states have established rules, particularly in the realm of international economic relations, and have empowered international tribunals to enforce those rules. However, the effectiveness of these institutions remains a subject of debate. In Delivering on Promises, Lauren J. Peritz compellingly argues that these international courts do yield results, but their efficacy depends on certain conditions.

According to Peritz's research, states are less inclined to adhere to international rules and court decisions when domestic industries possess the political power to obstruct compliance in specific cases. To substantiate her argument, the author conducts an extensive empirical analysis that traces the domestic politics of compliance with the decisions of two prominent international economic courts: the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement mechanism and the Court of Justice of the European Union.

In the face of mounting challenges to international agreements, this book provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay between domestic politics and international economic cooperation. It offers concrete evidence demonstrating that international economic courts are effective in fostering interstate cooperation. By shedding light on these dynamics, Delivering on Promises contributes to our understanding of the mechanisms that can promote stability and prosperity in the global arena.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226822136