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The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (Aiib) and rights protection

Revisionist or just another kid on the block

Bibliographic Data

ID12593197
AuthorsKatja Creutz (0000-0002-7368-6440, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume27
Issue7
Pages1107-1132
Publication date2022-02-17
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe International Journal of Human Rights (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1364-2987 • E-ISSN: 1744-053X
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13642987.2022.2033727
OpenAlexW4212868741
LanguageEN
Citations received3

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a newly created international institution, provides an opportunity to study the extent and efficacy of rights protection against the backdrop of human rights criticism directed at other multilateral development banks (MDBs). The analytical framework is formed by the so-called anticipatory institution-building positing that international organisations adopt safeguards without external pressure due to having learnt from the mistakes of peer organisations. The article explores the context in which China created the AIIB and the ensuing expectations regarding its environmental and social safeguards. Specific institutional traits gear the Bank towards being ‘lean, clean and green' while simultaneously formally paying due regard to environmental and social risks in development lending. The investigation of the Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) reveals that it largely resembles the operational safeguards of other MDBs while still being a ‘work in progress’. It is argued that rights protection remains trapped between institutional infancy problems and principled indifference. Efficiency prevails over protection, the applicability of the ESF is fragmented, central rights receive inadequate protection, and accountability mechanisms remain untested. While the ESF review will remedy some of the shortcomings, infrastructure lending cannot completely do away with adverse environmental and social impacts

Accountability · Business · China · Context (archaeology · Economics · Human rights · Institution · Investment (military · Investment banking · Law and economics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Human Rights and Development · International Arbitration and Investment Law · International Development and Aid · Law · Finance

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Citations per year1
Citation span2023 - 2026 (4)
Highly citedNo

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