Legalization, trade liberalization, and domestic politics: A cautionary note

Citation
J. Goldstein et Ll. Martin, Legalization, trade liberalization, and domestic politics: A cautionary note, INT ORGAN, 54(3), 2000, pp. 603
Citations number
8
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Politucal Science & public Administration
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
ISSN journal
0020-8183 → ACNP
Volume
54
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Database
ISI
SICI code
0020-8183(200022)54:3<603:LTLADP>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
If the purpose of legalization is to enhance international cooperation, mor e may not always be better. Achieving the optimal level of legalization req uires finding a balance between reducing the risks of opportunism and reduc ing the potential negative effects of legalization on domestic political pr ocesses. The global trade regime, which aims to liberalize trade, has becom e increasingly legalized over time. Increased legalization has changed the information environment and the nature of government obligations, which in turn have affected the pattern of mobilization of domestic interest groups on trade. From the perspective of encouraging the future expansion of liber al trade, we suggest some possible negative consequences of legalization, a rguing that these consequences must be weighed against the positive effects of legalization on increasing national compliance, Since the weakly legali zed GATT institution proved sufficient to sustain widespread liberalization , the case for further legalization must be strong to justify far-reaching change in the global trade regime.