Informal Norms in Global Governance: Human Rights, Intellectual Property Rules and Access to Medicines (Global Health)

Wolfgang Hein, Suerie Moon

ISBN 10: 1138261335 / ISBN 13: 9781138261334

Published by Routledge 2016-11-15, 2016

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 6666-IUK-9781138261334

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Informal Norms in Global Governance: Human Rights, Intellectual Property Rules and Access to Medicines (Global Health)
• Publisher: Routledge 2016-11-15
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1138261335
• ISBN 13: 9781138261334
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Hein and Moon take up a serious problem of contemporary global governance: what can be done when international trade rules prevent the realization of basic human rights? Starting in the 1990s, intellectual property obligations in trade agreements required many developing countries to begin granting medicines patents, which often rendered lifesaving drugs unaffordable. At stake was the question of what priority would be given to health-particularly of some of the world’s poorest people-and what priority to economic interests, particularly those of the most powerful states and firms. This book recounts the remarkable story of the access to medicines movement. The authors offer an explanation for how the informal, but powerful norm that every person should have access to essential medicines emerged after a decade of heated political contestation and against long odds. They also explore the stability and scope of the norm. Finally, the book examines the limitations of informal norms for protecting human rights, and when renewed focus on changing formal norms is warranted.

About the Author

Wolfgang Hein, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Germany and Suerie Moon, Harvard University, USA.