Democratising international investment law: recent trends and lessons from experience

Around the world, citizens’ groups are stepping up advocacy on international investment law – by scrutinising treaty negotiations, intervening in investor-state arbitrations, catalysing grassroots mobilisation or promoting public debate. Rapid, far-reaching and partly contrasting policy developments make this a particularly important point in time for shaping the future of international investment law.

This report discusses the conceptual underpinnings of a fundamental challenge to “democratise” international investment law; reviews trends in citizen engagement with international investment law; and distils lessons from some recent civil society experience.