Five Justifications for Investment Treaties: A Critical Discussion

Trade, Law & Development, Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 1, 2010

32 Pages Posted: 9 Jun 2010

See all articles by Gus Van Harten

Gus Van Harten

York University - Osgoode Hall Law School

Date Written: June 9, 2010

Abstract

The article examines five justifications for the investment treaty system. These include the justifications: (1) that investment treaties are a means to encourage foreign direct investment; (2) that investment treaties respond to the bias and unreliability of domestic courts; (3) that investment treaty arbitration advances the rule of law in the resolution of investor-state disputes; (4) that investment treaties affirm the sovereignty and bargaining strategies of states; and (5) that investment treaties were endorsed by the democratic processes of states. The discussion concludes with recommendations that states exercise greater care when considering entry into the system or, more likely, the maintenance or renewal of existing treaties, and that states consider options for reform of the arbitration mechanism.

Keywords: investment treaties, investment arbitration

Suggested Citation

Van Harten, Gus, Five Justifications for Investment Treaties: A Critical Discussion (June 9, 2010). Trade, Law & Development, Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 1, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1622928 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1622928

Gus Van Harten (Contact Author)

York University - Osgoode Hall Law School ( email )

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Canada
416 650 8419 (Phone)

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