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(Un)Sustainable Development(s) in International Economic Law: A Quest for Sustainability

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  • Anna Aseeva

    (Faculty of Law, School of General and Interdisciplinary Legal Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 3 Bolshoi Trexsviatitelskiy Str., 109240 Moscow, Russia)

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the ongoing debate on post-capitalist economy by exploring the contours of a sustainability-oriented model of economic governance. To this end, the article analyzes the issues of sustainable development in the three main strands of international economic law (trade, investment, and finance) at national and transnational levels. The analysis reveals a policy interdependence between international economic law and sustainable development. The latter hence represents a specific regulatory construct that aims at compensating the losses of exhaustible resources with investments in technology and knowledge. This, however, merely justifies and legitimizes the over-exploitation of certain parts of the globe, including not only their natural resources, but also human and other capitals. To overcome these unsustainable models, the article proposes a paradigm shift away from the standard of sustainable development in international economic law, towards one of sustainability. The idea is to replace sustainable development with sustainable economy. Law can act as a trigger of such a shift through ensuring trust and cooperation between public institutions, private companies, civil society, local communities, and individual citizens.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Aseeva, 2018. "(Un)Sustainable Development(s) in International Economic Law: A Quest for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-30, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4022-:d:180120
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    Cited by:

    1. Yan Cai & Eunmi Kim, 2019. "Sustainable Development in World Trade Law: Application of the Precautionary Principle in Korea-Radionuclides," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Drago, Carlo & Gatto, Andrea, 2022. "Policy, regulation effectiveness, and sustainability in the energy sector: A worldwide interval-based composite indicator," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Stephan J. Hauser & Penglin Zhu, 2022. "The Shaping of Daqing: Borderless Interactions between Oil and Urban Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Álvaro González Lorente & Montserrat Hernández López & Francisco Javier Martín Álvarez & Javier Mendoza Jiménez, 2020. "Differences in Electricity Generation from Renewable Sources from Similar Environmental Conditions: The Cases of Spain and Cuba," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Wei Yin, 2019. "Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into the Belt and Road Initiative: Would It Be a New Model for Green and Sustainable Investment?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-22, December.

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