Non-State Actors as Standard Setters

This book is an interdisciplinary exploration of the legitimacy, accountability, authority, and effectiveness of non-state actors and standards.

Anne Peters (Edited by), Lucy Koechlin (Edited by), Till Förster (Edited by), Gretta Fenner Zinkernagel (Edited by)

9780521114905, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 September 2009

608 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.8 cm, 1.06 kg

'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

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.

1. Non-state actors as standard-setters: framing the issue in an interdisciplinary fashion Anne Peters, Lucy Koechlin and Gretta Fenner
Part I. New Actors and Processes in Contemporary Standard-Setting: 2. Local and regional non-state actors on the margins of public policy in Africa Dieter Neubert
3. Conceptualising the use of public-private partnerships as a regulatory arrangement in critical information infrastructure protection Dan Assaf
4. Standard-setting at the cutting edge: an evidence-based typology for multi-stakeholder initiatives Lucy Koechlin and Richard Calland
5. New standards for and by private military companies? Lindsey Cameron
6. Governance matters VII: aggregate and individual governance indicators 1996–2007 Daniel Kaufmann, Aart Kraay and Massimo Mastruzzi
7. Contending with illicit power structures: a typology Michael Miklaucic
Part II. The Legitimacy and Accountability of Actors and Standards: 8. Democratic governance beyond the state: the legitimacy of non-state actors as standard-setters Steven Wheatley
9. Legitimacy, accountability and polycentric regulation: dilemmas, trilemmas and organisational response Julia Black
10. Accountability of transnational actors: is there scope for cross-sector principles? Monica Blagescu and Robert Lloyd
11. Non-state environmental standards as a substitute for state regulation? Marcus Schaper
12. Limiting violence - culture and the constitution of public norms: with a case study from a stateless area Till Förster
Part III. The Authority and Effectiveness of Actors and Standards: 13. Standard-setting for capital movements: reasserting sovereignty over transnational actors? Peter Hägel
14. Certification as a new private global forest governance system: the regulatory potential of the forest stewardship council Stéphane Guéneau
15. Private standards in the north - effective norms for the south? Eva Kocher
16. International corporate social responsibility standards: imposing or imitating business responsibility in Lithuania? Egle Svilpaite
17. Legal pluralism under the influence of globalisation: a case study of child adoption in Tanzania Ulrike Wanitzek
18. Towards non-state actors as effective, legitimate, and accountable standard-setters Anne Peters, Till Förster and Lucy Koechlin.

Subject Areas: Public international law [LBB], Corporate governance [KJR], International relations [JPS], Political science & theory [JPA]