Routledge Sustainable Development and Free Trade: Institutional Approaches (Routledge Studies in Development Economics)

Examining institutions rather than themes, this critical book provides a comprehensive survey of the inter-relationship between trade-induced economic growth and the environment and its impact on the global quest for sustainable development. Focusing in particular on the interests and concerns of developing countries and the skewing of international environmental policies into justifications for trade protectionism Shawkat Alam argues that environmental protection issues are inextricably linked with the economic development of developing countries whilst offering arguments for reforming the current international trade and environmental paradigms. Covering contemporary developments on both a global and regional level in a systematic fashion and examining the United Nation’s approach to sustainable development, this book is of interest to those studying in a range of disciplines, including development studies, environmental economics, the politics of international trade and environmental politics. Review "The approach of the book has been different from the existing literature. It has an institutional approach to clearly analyze the distinction between developed and developing countries' position and the fact that the latter became more vulnerable through these institutional initiatives to protect the environment. The author thereby has shown that the actual objective of sustainable development has not been achieved, on the contrary it has been defeated. [...The] book has substantiated the literature on this debate through the consolidation of major empirical cases and by providing the main policy implications, therefore contributing significantly to the literature." --Rupamanjari Sinha Ray, Management Development Institute, India About the Author Shawkat Alam is Lecturer in Environmental Law at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.