Developing countries coalition evolution in the WTO: Causes and consequences
Date
2014-06-19
Authors
Phahle, Nkotseng William
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Abstract
Since the end of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations in 1994 and the subsequent
formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the following year (1995), there
has been a proliferation of coalition formations within the WTO especially by
developing countries. Each coalition seeking to effect a particular change in the
international trade regime, whether be structural, organizational, governance or the
equitable share of costs and benefits etc. This research report seeks to unpack the
types of coalitions formed and assess the rationale behind their formation. A
comparison of coalition’s pre and post 1995 will be made to get a glimpse of what
distinguishes new coalitions from their predecessor. Amongst other things the impact
or lack thereof which these coalitions has had on the structure, procedures, decision
making and rules of the WTO, would also be evaluated to reflect on their success and
weaknesses in trade negotiations. The Dependency theory of international relations
together with the Transformational Leadership Approach drawn from the public
administration school of thought would be used to explain the poor success of these
coalitions. And account for reasons why most of them have recorded minimal success
in their endeavours of creating an international trade regime with a more human face.
The emergence of rising powers (e.g. countries like China, India, Brazil and to a
lesser extent South Africa) together with the leadership roles which these countries
provide in coalition building would be explored in an attempt to explain how these
new actors or powers in international relations have the ability to mitigate on the
weakness that crippled coalitions and ensure that developing countries forge strong
coalitions capable of realizing their intended goals within the WTO moving forward.