Edward Elgar Publishing NGOs in International Law: Efficiency in Flexibility?

The increasing role that NGOs play at different levels of legal relevance - from treaty-making to rule implementation, and from support to judges to aid delivery - calls for reconsideration of the international legal status of those organizations. This book shows that the degree of flexibility currently enjoyed by NGOs in fields as varied as human rights, the environment and the European Union development cooperation policy constitutes the best arena for all actors involved, with the consequences that the instances where more strict regulation of NGOs' participation is desirable are very limited. With each chapter focusing on a different modality of NGO participation in international affairs (from formalised legal statuses to informal ways of dealing with issues of international relevance), this book will be of great interest to academics specialised in international law, political scientists, international officials working for both international organisations and non-governmental organisations, and legal practitioners (legal counsels of international organisations, lawyers and judges). Review 'The essays are persuasive and well-written and, all in all, the book makes an indelible contribution to the legal discourse surrounding this subject. Although the essays are presented with sufficient detail and structure for legal specialists, it would be extremely useful for lobbying practitioners. It is equally essential reading for larger NGOs who wish to improve existing partnership efforts as well as smaller NGOs in developing countries who would like to know more about the policy considerations underpinning current limitations to the NGO's role.' -- Akima Paul, Vienna Online Journal on International Constitutional Law'The increasing importance of NGOs has forced international institutions to pay attention to issues of participation and transparency. This excellent book provides comprehensive and insightful analyses of how international bodies accommodate NGOs and their concerns. It forthrightly addresses the uncertain legal status of NGOs in international law.' About the Author Edited by Pierre-Marie Dupuy, Emeritus Professor, University of Paris (Panthéon-Assas), Paris, France and Honorary Professor of International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland and Luisa Vierucci, Researcher, University of Florence, Italy