Private Power and Global Authority: Transnational Merchant Law in the Global Political Economy (Cambridge Studies in International Relations, Series Number 90)

Transnational merchant law, which is mistakenly regarded in purely technical and apolitical terms, is a central mediator of domestic and global political/legal orders. By engaging with literature in international law, international relations and international political economy, this 2003 book develops the conceptual and theoretical foundations for analyzing the political significance of international economic law. In doing so, it illustrates the private nature of the interests that this evolving legal order has served over time. The book makes a sustained and comprehensive analysis of transnational merchant law and offers a radical critique of global capitalism.

Claire Cutler's critical analysis of the role that international economic law plays in the creation and maintenance of global power relations examines the historical and contemporary evolution of merchant law. She concludes that private interests have governed global economic relations through practices that are little understood. Interdisciplinary in scope, this study draws upon international relations and law, international political economy and political and legal theories. It will be an important first step toward developing a critical understanding of the political foundations of transnational merchant law.

By engaging with literature in international law, international relations & international political economy, this text develops the conceptual & theoretical foundations for analyzing the political significance of international economic law. It offers a radical critique of global capitalism

An examination of the historical and contemporary influence of private power in the global economy.