Changing Authorities and New Accountability in the World Trade Organization: Addressing a Research Gap

Abstract

The global economy is undergoing significant changes. Many (re-)emerging economies (especially in South East Asia) have seen spectacular growth rates over the past few years, new markets have been created and global production chains have diversified and expanded. I argue in this paper that new powerful actors represent a challenge for global regulatory politics. In particular related to international organizations, the international relations literature has not paid sufficient attention to the role and impact of emerging developing countries (changing authorities) and how the system accommodates these new powerful voices. The paper suggests a more systematic analysis in addressing implications for intergovernmental organizations (here the WTO) resulting from emerging powers inspired by an exit-voice-loyalty perspective (Hirschman 1970). The second part of the paper takes up the emerging discourse(s) on accountability in relation to the new titans in the global economy.