The politics of deep integration*

Abstract

Efforts to pursue ‘deep integration’—agreeing to international rules governing domestic policies to mitigate their adverse trade effects—have been pivotal to the politicization of trade policy. The contributions to this special issue focus on different political dynamics associated with recent high-profile efforts at deep integration. Collectively, they analyse the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Japan–European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (JEEPA) negotiations. The special issue, therefore, focuses on extreme examples of deep integration in order to illuminate new political dynamics. This introductory article introduces the concept of ‘deep integration’ and explores how it has been pursued in historical and contemporary trade negotiations. It also relates recent attempts at deep integration to the rise of populist anti-globalization movements. In light of these discussions, this article introduces the contributions to the issue. It concludes by considering whether the politics associated with TTIP and CETA in Europe represent the future of trade policy.     

Intergovernmental policy makes transnational politics? The unusually transnational politics of TTIP

Abstract

When the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations were underway, its politics were distinctively transnational. Numerous alliances between European and American industry associations advocated an ambitious agreement to mitigate the effects of conflicting rules. Some civic interest groups also closely cooperated to shape the agreement, while a broad, loose transatlantic coalition of civic interest groups opposed it. The extent of transnationalism in TTIP was greater than what had come before in the transatlantic relationship and what is evident in contemporaneous analogous trade negotiations. This article argues that while the salience of a trade negotiation affects whether societal actors mobilize, it is not sufficient to prompt transnational cooperation. Rather transnational cooperation stems primarily from what the actors are seeking to achieve and whether they have a motive and opportunity to work together. By clarifying the conditions under which transnational cooperation is more likely, this article informs the emerging literature on the new politics of trade. By making the case that the motives to mobilize and cooperate require distinct analysis, it contributes to the literature on transnationalism.     

Commercializing air traffic control: Have the reforms worked?

Abstract: Air navigation service providers (ANSPs) play a critical role in the operation of a modern economy. Many countries have restructured their ANSPs by granting managerial and financial autonomy and creating new mechanisms for regulation and accountability to major consumers of air navigation services. These reforms have exemplified principles often associated with the New Public Management. The United States is the major exception to this international trend. Commercialization has allowed significant improvements in service quality without substantial increases in cost of service or erosion of safety standards. Other public interest considerations have also been protected. These performance benefits can be attributed to key decisions on the governance of new air navigation service organizations. Sommaire: Les fournisseurs de services de navigation aérienne jouent un rôle crucial dans le fonctionnement d'une économie moderne. De nombreux pays ont restructuré leurs fournisseurs de services en leur accordant une autonomie financière et de gestion, et en créant de nouveaux mécanismes de réglementation et d'imputabilité envers les principaux consommateurs de services de navigation aérienne. Ces réformes ont illustré les principes souvent associés à la Nouvelle gestion publique. Les États‐Unis sont la principale exception à cette tendance internationale. La commercialisation a permis d'apporter d'importantes améliorations à la qualité des services sans entraîner pour autant d'augmentations substantielles des coûts de services, ou une érosion des normes de sécurité. D'autres considérations d'intérêt public ont également été protégées. Ces avantages en termes de performance peuvent être attribués à des décisions clés en matière de gouvernance des nouveaux organismes de services de navigation aérienne.     

Retrenchment and freedom of information: recent experience under federal,Ontario and British Columbia law

Abstract: A large majority of Canada's federal, provincial, territorial and local governments are now required to comply with freedom of information (foi) laws. Some critics have argued that long-standing problems of non-compliance have been aggravated during the recent period of public-sector retrenchment. However, good evidence of non-compliance has been lacking. In this study, statistical reports produced by government institutions are used to assess recent trends in the administration of the federal Access to Information Act and Ontario's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Limited data are also used to study British Columbia's foi law. Data suggest that policy decisions in these three jurisdictions have led to a weakening of foi laws. Three reforms are proposed: better reporting by departments and agencies on their handling of foi requests; a change in the enforcement strategy traditionally used by federal and provincial information commissioners; and a reconsideration of methods used to levy fees on individuals and organizations who make foi requests. Sommaire: Au Canada, la vaste majorité des gouvemements fédéral, provinciaux, territoriaux et locaux doivent aujourd'hui se conformer aux lois sur l'accès à l'information (laX). Selon certains, les problèmes de non-conformité, qui ne datent pas d'hier, ont été aggravés lors des récentes coupures subies par le secteur public. Les études sur la non-conformité manquent cependant. Dans le cadre de cette étude, A nous faisons appel à des statistiques produites par des institutions gouvernementales, afin d'évaluer les demières tendances de l'administration de la Loi fédérale sur l'accès à l'information ainsi que de la Loi ontarienne sur l'accès à l'information et la protection de la vie privée. On y analyse également la lai de la Colombie-Britannique en fonction de données limitées. Selon les données, les décisions en matière de politique dans ces trois juridictions auraient affaibli les lai. L'auteur propose trois réformes: les ministères et les organismes devraient mieux rendre compte de la manière dont ils traitent les demandes concernant les lai; la stratégic d'application traditionnelle que suivent les commissaires à l'information fédéraux et provinciaux devrait subir des modifications; enfin, on devrait revoir les méthodes employées pour imposer les tarifs aux particuliers ou aux organismes qui font des demandes en vertu des lai.     

From kinship to magic circle: the London commercial law firm in the twentieth century

The authors trace the successive transformations of the large London commercial law firm, which entered the 20th century as a small group of partners, typically from one or more family groups, surrounded by a large group of working class clerks who performed much of the ‘professional work’. After mid-century this firm based on kinship and class hierarchy gave way to a larger firm consisting of non-kin partners selected meritocratically presiding over an increasing band of assistant solicitors and trainees recruited on the basis of their educational credentials and taking part in a promotion-to-partnership tournament. In the last decade of the century, the central institutions and understandings of this meritocratic firm gave way to a constellation of larger, less stable, and increasingly supra-national aggregations, in a setting pervaded by a fascination, both instrumental and narcissistic, with rank and image.