Informal International Lawmaking: Framing the Concept and Research Questions

Abstract

This paper introduces and frames an ongoing research project on informal international law-making (IN-LAW). It defines what is meant by "informal" on three axes: output informality, process informality and actor informality. The core substantive question addressed is how to balance the effectiveness of this new model of international cooperation with perceived problems of accountability. The paper offers working definitions of accountability and different lenses through which levels of accountability can be assessed.

Keywords: International Law-Making, Effectiveness, International Cooperation, Accountability