Trade Governance beyond Multilateralism

What does your own research on global governance currently focus on?

I have historically looked at trade diplomacy in developing countries, so my main institutional focus has been the World Trade Organization (WTO). More recently, I have moved on to focus more on the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in trade politics. I also look at how civil society groups engage with managerialism and how one can think about managerial ideology and practices in global governance.

What was it that inspired you to move focus on the role of NGOs in global governance?

I have always had an interest in NGOs and social movements. But I think it was partly the lack of political action at the negotiation level of the WTO which led myself and others to look beyond the multilateral context. The failure of the Doha Round put the spotlight on different actors and activities within the trading system, with new research looking at the history of NGO activism and also the role of expertise in trade governance.

Would you say there are any particular ‘blind spots’ in the global governance literature that need pressing investigation?

Well, sometimes I think there is enough on the plate as it is. I would say, more generally, we struggle with understanding the wider relationship and connections between different social worlds and spaces in global governance. If I had to pick one particular issue area that needs more investigation it would be the impact of the consumer technology revolution and the role of the major tech giants. They are extremely powerful actors in many areas of global governance and their role needs to be much more scrutinised. 

This interview was conducted by Alexandra Ming, MSc Global Governance and Ethics, at a research workshop on ‘Beyond Multilateralism: The Future of Global Governance’ on 12 February 2019.