Since the first international investment agreement was negotiated nearly six decades ago, developed countries have sought to protect their investors against the possible failure of host countries (usually a developing country) to respect treaty standards. The North American Free Trade Agreement and the European Energy Charter, both dating from 1994, marked the first instances of developed countries signing an agreement containing provisions for investor-state arbitration (ISA) between themselves. Since then, ISA has become a standard feature of international investment agreements, even as the chorus of protest against ISA from civil society groups (and some nations) has grown louder. Second Thoughts gathers the reflections of 14 international investment experts, examining experiences of ISA in Canada and various parts of the world, and asking whether ISA is appropriate between developed democracies.
