Emilie M. Hafner-Burton. 2009. Forced to be Good: Why Trade Agreements Boost Human Rights, (Ithaca, Cornell University Press)

Excerpt

The rising prominence of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) is one of the trademarks of the current global economy. This type of agreement has become increasingly complex and wide-ranging over time. In Forced to be Good, Emilie Hafner-Burton examines one intriguing aspect of this phenomenon: the inclusion of human rights protections in trade agreements concluded by the United States and the European Union (EU), mostly with developing-country partners. As Hafner-Burton points out, the regulation of human rights through PTAs is peculiar. On the surface, the coupling of human rights and trade is diplomatically disruptive, economically inefficient, and politically divisive. Through careful empirical analysis, this book offers a provocative and compelling narrative that casts new light on this puzzle. …