Non-State Actors as Standard Setters

Description

This analysis of 'globalised' standard-setting processes draws together insights from law, political sciences, sociology and social anthropology to assess the authority and accountability of non-state actors and the legitimacy and effectiveness of the processes. The essays offer new understandings of current governance problems, including environmental and financial standards, rules for military contractors and complex public-private partnerships, such as those intended to protect critical information infrastructure. The contributions also evaluate multi-stakeholder initiatives (such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative), and discuss the constitution of public norms in stateless areas. A synopsis of the latest results of the World Governance Indicator, arguably one of the most important surveys in the area today, is included.

Anne Peters is Professor of Public International Law and Constitutional Law at the University of Basel and a member of the Scientific Board of the Basel Institute on Governance. She is also visiting professor at Sciences Po, Paris. Lucy Koechlin is Head of Public Accountability at the Basel Institute on Governance, and Lecturer of Development Studies at the Institute of Sociology and the Centre for African Studies Basel (CASB), University of Basel, Switzerland. Till Foerster is a member of the Scientific Board of the Basel Institute on Governance and holds the chair for social anthropology at the University of Basel. He is also director of the interdisciplinary Centre for African Studies Basel (CASB), University of Basel, Switzerland. Gretta Fenner Zinkernagel is a Consultant to the Board of the Basel Institute on Governance and advises the Western Australian Office of the Public Sector Standards Commissioner on ethics and integrity issues.

'Because of its broad coverage, the book provides inspiration not only in terms of empirical cases but also for more research at the disciplinary frontiers. Legal scholars, political scientists and sociologists interested in the phenomenon of non-state standard setting are presented with an inspiring account of how a joint interdisciplinary effort can provide a more complete understanding of the role of non-state actors in contemporary world politics. Overall, Non-State Actors as Standard Setters offers a fascinating account of the diversity associated with standard setting by non-state actors.' Kathrin Ludwig and Philipp Pattberg, Transnational Environmental Law