Diane Desierto, Public Policy in International Economic Law: The ICESCR in Trade, Finance, and Investment

Abstract

Diane Desierto’s book adds to the raging debate on how public policy objectives can and should be incorporated into international economic law (IEL); she focuses on the areas of international trade, finance, and investment. She deems the economic, social, and cultural (ESC) rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, 1966 (ICESCR) such as the rights to self-determination, work, social security, health, education, and to participate in cultural life important international values that should be weaved into the current IEL regime through deliberate, consistent, and systematic means. Of particular concern to her is inherent global inequality, which can be exacerbated when ICESCR rights are disregarded due to the unequal balance of power in the economic relations between developing and developed countries. Desierto’s contribution to the current scholarship in this field is a well-researched and balanced monograph that explores ways in which State Parties to the ICESCR (State Parties) and the IEL architecture can operationalise and meaningfully interpret international ESC rights obligations when they cross paths.