Dashed Hopes? The Limits of International Economic Norms in Promoting the Rule of Law in China

This chapter seeks to explain why the integration of China into the liberal international economic order has not been successful in performing the expected catalyst role in promoting the rule of law in China, contrary to what was widely expected in Western liberal democracies. Based on a critical look at the prevailing narratives on how international trade and investment norms may impact domestic governance and the rule of law of a nation state and the limits of the rule of law development in China over the past two decades, this chapter argues that, although international economic norms and institutions have played a positive role in advancing the rule of law in China, such a role has long been exaggerated. The chapter further shows that the prevailing narratives were based on misunderstandings of the nature and function of international economic law as well as some deeply flawed assumptions.