A New Frontier in Fighting Inequality
International Law and Finance
In: Nordic Journal of International LawSearch for other papers by Kangle Zhang in
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Search for other papers by Ukri Soirila in
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Abstract
While inequality within and between states has attracted the attention of international lawyers, international law research on inequality between individuals globally remains a rarity. This article examines inequality between individuals by targeting ‘finance and inequality’—the linkage between international finance and the rising inequality between individuals at the global level. The article builds on the legal theory of finance and its contention that financial market operations are legally constructed, and from there, it highlights the essential role of states and state-backing in international finance. Furthermore, operations in the global financial market often take place through legal fields that are familiar to international lawyers but not often thought of as having to do with finance. The article, therefore, makes the case that international finance should be a new frontier in international lawyers’ fight against inequality. The article invites international lawyers to approach international finance by learning the vocabulary and grammar of finance and bringing in the toolbox and aesthetics of international lawyers in studying finance, inequality, and international law. As a performance of such practice, the article conducts a case study on credit rating agencies and highlights the linkage between states, international law and standards, and the distributive implications of these agencies through financial market mechanisms.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 357 | 357 | 18 |
| Full Text Views | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 51 | 51 | 1 |
A New Frontier in Fighting Inequality
International Law and Finance
In: Nordic Journal of International LawSearch for other papers by Kangle Zhang in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Ukri Soirila in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
While inequality within and between states has attracted the attention of international lawyers, international law research on inequality between individuals globally remains a rarity. This article examines inequality between individuals by targeting ‘finance and inequality’—the linkage between international finance and the rising inequality between individuals at the global level. The article builds on the legal theory of finance and its contention that financial market operations are legally constructed, and from there, it highlights the essential role of states and state-backing in international finance. Furthermore, operations in the global financial market often take place through legal fields that are familiar to international lawyers but not often thought of as having to do with finance. The article, therefore, makes the case that international finance should be a new frontier in international lawyers’ fight against inequality. The article invites international lawyers to approach international finance by learning the vocabulary and grammar of finance and bringing in the toolbox and aesthetics of international lawyers in studying finance, inequality, and international law. As a performance of such practice, the article conducts a case study on credit rating agencies and highlights the linkage between states, international law and standards, and the distributive implications of these agencies through financial market mechanisms.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 357 | 357 | 18 |
| Full Text Views | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 51 | 51 | 1 |
