Structure


At present, the Observatory of Globalisation of the University of Barcelona is divided in seven specific fields of activity. Three of them analyse the main aspects of the legal and institutional framework of the economic globalisation. The fourth focuses on the phenomenon of regional economic integration. The fifth deals specifically with a regional integration process extremely important from the Spanish point of view: Mercosur. The sixth studies, in general, the reaction of social movements in front of global institutions. The seventh and last field analyses the management of the globalisation process from the specific point of view of the developing countries.

The main subjects covered by each field of activity are as follow:

  1. The regulatory framework of the globalisation process (with special emphasis on the role of the WTO):

a) General overview of the regulatory framework of the globalisation process and perspectives for its reform.
b) Proposals to create new institutions (an International Tax Organisation, a Global Environmental Organisation, an Economic Security Council).
c) The regulatory framework of the international financial system. 
d) What are the WTO and the three main agreements it manages: GATT, GATS and TRIPS?
 - Special coverage and monitoring of the new WTO general negotiations round and the development of its dispute settlement mechanism.

   2. International Business Law

a) The unification of material and dispute-settlement law on international business.
b) The extraterritorial implementation of internal regulations.
c) Contracting through Internet.
d) Judicial and extrajudicial dispute settlement.
e) Aspects of WTO agreements more directly related to international business: intellectual property rights, competition law and liberalisation of sectors, labour rights and environmental protection regulations.

  3. International Agreements on Foreign Investment

a) Bilateral agreements of Spain with third countries.
b) Comparison between bilateral agreements of Spain and of other countries (France, United States of America, Latin American countries).
c) Multilateral agreements on foreign investment: GATS, the experience of the negotiations of the MAI-OECD Agreement.
d) Dispute settlement procedures established by different international agreements.

  4. Regional Economic Integration

a) Multilateralism, regional integration and bilateralism.
b) The European model and the limits to its "exportability".
c) Regional economic integration processes outside Europe.

  5. Mercosur

a) The relations between the European Community and its Member States and Mercosur and its Member States.
  - The present agreement and the negotiation process to fill this agreement with content.
  - The interdependence between these negotiations and the WTO multilateral negotiations.
b) The specific dynamic of Mercosur: the evolution of the regional integration process.

  6. Globalisation and social movements

a) The reactions of social movements to globalisation. The "new subjects" in the field of the international economic relations.
b) The dangers of unilateralism and bilateralism. The need for a (reformed) multilateral system from the perspective of progressive social policies.

  7. Globalisation and development

a) Multilateralism, regionalism and development.
b) The point of view of developing countries on the "new subjects" in the international economic agenda.

------------------
  Objectives  /     Activities  /     Staff  /     Address

Publications  /    Recent Activities