This article describes two of the most recent sub-regional integration efforts in South America, ... more This article describes two of the most recent sub-regional integration efforts in South America, namely ALBA and UNASUR, including the factors that have contributed to their development. The analysis offered here pays special attention to the role played by the Venezuelan government, particularly during the administration of former president Hugo Chavez, both in political and economic terms toward the rise and growth of ALBA. This article also explains how the heavy dependence on Venezuela's support was also detrimental to ALBA for it has been negatively affected by the crisis currently faced by the Latin American country. In contrast to the case of ALBA, this article discusses the rise of UNASUR as a collective endeavor and the efforts of its members to create a regional framework that includes a novel proposal of a Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.
This article offers a synopsis on the current status of class actions, and other forms of aggrega... more This article offers a synopsis on the current status of class actions, and other forms of aggregative and collective litigation that exist in Latin America. In light of the limited scope of this article, my goal is to simply present a general report that highlights the differences and similarities in procedural rules and legal practices regarding the use of remedies against collective harms. Special attention is given to those countries that have developed a legal framework for the protection of individual and collective rights through different forms of aggregative processes, with particular focus on the potential for and the obstacles that affect the various forms of collective litigation in the region.
RESUMEN: El presente trabajo explora las razones por las cuales los abogados latinoamericanos dec... more RESUMEN: El presente trabajo explora las razones por las cuales los abogados latinoamericanos deciden realizar cursos de maestría en los Estados Unidos, y por qué las escuelas de derecho estadounidenses ofrecen posgrados para extranjeros.
This paper explores the manipulative use of the law for political gain. It describes instances in... more This paper explores the manipulative use of the law for political gain. It describes instances in which law is distorted and camouflaged under an apparent goal of pursuing justice, social change, or development, but its real function is to facilitate the attainment of self-interested political gains or other ends. The malleability of law is illustrated in this article with a description of the social programs known as "Misiones Bolivarianas" implemented in Venezuela since 2004. The Misiones were ostensibly portrayed as effective government measures launched to reduce poverty and fight inequality in areas where traditional state institutions had failed. As part of the implementation strategy of its policies geared towards fighting poverty and inequality, the Venezuelan government deployed certain legal tools, namely the enactment of special legislation and the transformation of legal institutions. However, instead of promoting transparency and enhancing accountability, these tools have been used to insulate the Misiones from any form of external oversight, thus leaving them at the mercy of political manipulation and other perverse goals. By looking at the legal tools enacted to assist in the implementation of Venezuela's social policies, this article contributes to the discussion about the instrumentality of law and the impact of the social, political, economic, cultural, and historical factors.
About TDM TDM (Transnational Dispute Management): Focusing on recent developments in the area of ... more About TDM TDM (Transnational Dispute Management): Focusing on recent developments in the area of Investment arbitration and Dispute Management, regulation, treaties, judicial and arbitral cases, voluntary guidelines, tax and contracting. Visit www.transnational-dispute-management.com for full Terms & Conditions and subscription rates.
This law and society reader taps a rich and diverse literature to compare and contrast the legal ... more This law and society reader taps a rich and diverse literature to compare and contrast the legal experience of many different cultures and nations. Drawing on a variety of methodological approaches, the selections allow students to evaluate whether there are general patterns that explain how legal systems work (or fail to work) and how these patterns relate to the structural and cultural facts of society.
Every country, of course, has its own legal system, and no two systems are the same. But in teaching law and society, texts have focused nearly exclusively on American readings to the neglect of comparative and international work. This reader fills an obvious gap. It recognizes that law is increasingly global and cross-national, and shows how law relates to society in different times and places, the world over.
ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law, 2013
Agradezco a los participantes en estas conferencias y seminarios por sus comentarios y valiosos p... more Agradezco a los participantes en estas conferencias y seminarios por sus comentarios y valiosos puntos de vista. Marisol Floren-Romero proveyó un extraordinario apoyo bibliográfico para este proyecto. También agradezco a los miembros del comité editorial del ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law por su asistencia en la preparación de este artículo para publicación. 1.
Este artigo explora a inter-relação entre dois importantes sistemas jurídicos: proteção do trabal... more Este artigo explora a inter-relação entre dois importantes sistemas jurídicos: proteção do trabalho internacional e arbitragem internacional. Seu objetivo é destacar seu possível alinhamento e capacidade de se complementarem, apesar de terem seguido trajetórias independentes durante a maior parte de sua história institucional e de sua aparente contradição. Como explicado neste artigo, a institucionalização da proteção internacional do trabalho e da arbitragem internacional têm origem comum. Ambas as ideias foram promovidas durante os esforços de construção da paz após o fim da Primeira Guerra Mundial como parte de uma nova forma de governança internacional destinada a promover o desenvolvimento econômico, a justiça social e, sobretudo, a paz mundial. Este artigo também demonstra que o advento da globalização no final do século XX serviu como um catalisador para a convergência entre a arbitragem e a proteção internacional do trabalho. A arbitragem internacional vem ganhando relevânci...
En Ve ne zue la, como en casi cual quier otra so cie dad, va rios de los ins tru men tos que mo d... more En Ve ne zue la, como en casi cual quier otra so cie dad, va rios de los ins tru men tos que mo der na men te se co no cen como me ca nis mos al ter na ti vos de re so lu cion de con flic tos se co no cen des de hace mu cho tiem po, pero el tema no ha bia me re ci do mu cha aten cion sino en las ul ti mas de ca das. Entre los ju ris tas ve ne zo la nos la idea tra di cio nal es el mo no po lio es ta tal de la jus ti cia. Los tri bu na les se ven como el si tio nor mal y usual en el cual se ma ne jan los con flic tos. Para esta idea tra di cio nal, las “al ter na ti vas” tie nen ne ce sa ria men te una me nor dig ni dad.
This article describes two of the most recent sub-regional integration efforts in South America, ... more This article describes two of the most recent sub-regional integration efforts in South America, namely ALBA and UNASUR, including the factors that have contributed to their development. The analysis offered here pays special attention to the role played by the Venezuelan government, particularly during the administration of former president Hugo Chavez, both in political and economic terms toward the rise and growth of ALBA. This article also explains how the heavy dependence on Venezuela's support was also detrimental to ALBA for it has been negatively affected by the crisis currently faced by the Latin American country. In contrast to the case of ALBA, this article discusses the rise of UNASUR as a collective endeavor and the efforts of its members to create a regional framework that includes a novel proposal of a Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.
This article offers a synopsis on the current status of class actions, and other forms of aggrega... more This article offers a synopsis on the current status of class actions, and other forms of aggregative and collective litigation that exist in Latin America. In light of the limited scope of this article, my goal is to simply present a general report that highlights the differences and similarities in procedural rules and legal practices regarding the use of remedies against collective harms. Special attention is given to those countries that have developed a legal framework for the protection of individual and collective rights through different forms of aggregative processes, with particular focus on the potential for and the obstacles that affect the various forms of collective litigation in the region.
RESUMEN: El presente trabajo explora las razones por las cuales los abogados latinoamericanos dec... more RESUMEN: El presente trabajo explora las razones por las cuales los abogados latinoamericanos deciden realizar cursos de maestría en los Estados Unidos, y por qué las escuelas de derecho estadounidenses ofrecen posgrados para extranjeros.
This paper explores the manipulative use of the law for political gain. It describes instances in... more This paper explores the manipulative use of the law for political gain. It describes instances in which law is distorted and camouflaged under an apparent goal of pursuing justice, social change, or development, but its real function is to facilitate the attainment of self-interested political gains or other ends. The malleability of law is illustrated in this article with a description of the social programs known as "Misiones Bolivarianas" implemented in Venezuela since 2004. The Misiones were ostensibly portrayed as effective government measures launched to reduce poverty and fight inequality in areas where traditional state institutions had failed. As part of the implementation strategy of its policies geared towards fighting poverty and inequality, the Venezuelan government deployed certain legal tools, namely the enactment of special legislation and the transformation of legal institutions. However, instead of promoting transparency and enhancing accountability, these tools have been used to insulate the Misiones from any form of external oversight, thus leaving them at the mercy of political manipulation and other perverse goals. By looking at the legal tools enacted to assist in the implementation of Venezuela's social policies, this article contributes to the discussion about the instrumentality of law and the impact of the social, political, economic, cultural, and historical factors.
About TDM TDM (Transnational Dispute Management): Focusing on recent developments in the area of ... more About TDM TDM (Transnational Dispute Management): Focusing on recent developments in the area of Investment arbitration and Dispute Management, regulation, treaties, judicial and arbitral cases, voluntary guidelines, tax and contracting. Visit www.transnational-dispute-management.com for full Terms & Conditions and subscription rates.
This law and society reader taps a rich and diverse literature to compare and contrast the legal ... more This law and society reader taps a rich and diverse literature to compare and contrast the legal experience of many different cultures and nations. Drawing on a variety of methodological approaches, the selections allow students to evaluate whether there are general patterns that explain how legal systems work (or fail to work) and how these patterns relate to the structural and cultural facts of society.
Every country, of course, has its own legal system, and no two systems are the same. But in teaching law and society, texts have focused nearly exclusively on American readings to the neglect of comparative and international work. This reader fills an obvious gap. It recognizes that law is increasingly global and cross-national, and shows how law relates to society in different times and places, the world over.
ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law, 2013
Agradezco a los participantes en estas conferencias y seminarios por sus comentarios y valiosos p... more Agradezco a los participantes en estas conferencias y seminarios por sus comentarios y valiosos puntos de vista. Marisol Floren-Romero proveyó un extraordinario apoyo bibliográfico para este proyecto. También agradezco a los miembros del comité editorial del ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law por su asistencia en la preparación de este artículo para publicación. 1.
Este artigo explora a inter-relação entre dois importantes sistemas jurídicos: proteção do trabal... more Este artigo explora a inter-relação entre dois importantes sistemas jurídicos: proteção do trabalho internacional e arbitragem internacional. Seu objetivo é destacar seu possível alinhamento e capacidade de se complementarem, apesar de terem seguido trajetórias independentes durante a maior parte de sua história institucional e de sua aparente contradição. Como explicado neste artigo, a institucionalização da proteção internacional do trabalho e da arbitragem internacional têm origem comum. Ambas as ideias foram promovidas durante os esforços de construção da paz após o fim da Primeira Guerra Mundial como parte de uma nova forma de governança internacional destinada a promover o desenvolvimento econômico, a justiça social e, sobretudo, a paz mundial. Este artigo também demonstra que o advento da globalização no final do século XX serviu como um catalisador para a convergência entre a arbitragem e a proteção internacional do trabalho. A arbitragem internacional vem ganhando relevânci...
En Ve ne zue la, como en casi cual quier otra so cie dad, va rios de los ins tru men tos que mo d... more En Ve ne zue la, como en casi cual quier otra so cie dad, va rios de los ins tru men tos que mo der na men te se co no cen como me ca nis mos al ter na ti vos de re so lu cion de con flic tos se co no cen des de hace mu cho tiem po, pero el tema no ha bia me re ci do mu cha aten cion sino en las ul ti mas de ca das. Entre los ju ris tas ve ne zo la nos la idea tra di cio nal es el mo no po lio es ta tal de la jus ti cia. Los tri bu na les se ven como el si tio nor mal y usual en el cual se ma ne jan los con flic tos. Para esta idea tra di cio nal, las “al ter na ti vas” tie nen ne ce sa ria men te una me nor dig ni dad.
Lawyering, OiL and POLitics in cOntemPOrary VenezueLa This chapter focuses on Venezuelan corporat... more Lawyering, OiL and POLitics in cOntemPOrary VenezueLa This chapter focuses on Venezuelan corporate lawyers during the period 1994-2014, a time in which the country experienced abrupt changes in its political orientation and economic policies. In 1989, as a response to a crisis partially credited by a failure of the model of import substitutions and national industrialization, Venezuela opened its economy to the world, allowing foreign investment, freeing export-import trade and eliminating currency exchange controls. In particular, in 1994, following a policy of economic openness touted as "oil opening" (apertura petrolera) Venezuela allowed the entry of foreign investors in the oil business-an activity that had been reserved to the state since 1974-and conversely, Venezuela acquired important refineries and expanded its business presence into foreign countries. Even though the oil opening policy was short lived, it had a profound impact on the transformation of Venezuelan business law firms and the legal profession at large. Starting in the early 2000s,
The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challeng... more The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. To learn more about RAND, visit www.rand.org. Research Integrity Our mission to help improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis is enabled through our core values of quality and objectivity and our unwavering commitment to the highest level of integrity and ethical behavior. To help ensure our research and analysis are rigorous, objective, and nonpartisan, we subject our research publications to a robust and exacting quality-assurance process; avoid both the appearance and reality of financial and other conflicts of interest through staff training, project screening, and a policy of mandatory disclosure; and pursue transparency in our research engagements through our commitment to the open publication of our research findings and recommendations, disclosure of the source of funding of published research, and policies to ensure intellectual independence. For more information, visit www.rand.org/about/principles. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.
This Article describes the blossoming CLF sector by placing it in the context of the fast-growing... more This Article describes the blossoming CLF sector by placing it in the context of the fast-growing crowdfunding industry and the alternative litigation finance industry. Part I first explains the basic structure, variations in the types of crowdfunding financing, and the overall impact of crowdfunding, after which this Article turns to highlight the most important issues that arise in the context of alternative litigation finance in Part II. Subsequently, in Part III, the Article explains the main features of the emerging CLF sub-industry and examines the universe of recently launched crowdfunding campaigns geared towards seeking funding for litigated cases. This Part — and the Article — ends with a brief discussion on the possible challenges that affect the development of CLF, and how the sub-industry’s players are addressing them.
Este artigo descreve dois dos mais recentes esforços de integração sub-regional na América do Sul... more Este artigo descreve dois dos mais recentes esforços de integração sub-regional na América do Sul, a ALBA e a UNASUL, incluindo os fatores que contribuíram para o seu desenvolvimento. A análise aqui oferece atenção especial ao papel desempenhado pelo governo venezuelano, especialmente durante o governo do ex-presidente Hugo Chávez, tanto em termos políticos quanto econômicos em direção à ascensão e ao crescimento da ALBA. Este artigo também explica como a forte dependência do apoio da Venezuela foi prejudicial para a ALBA, que foi afetada negativamente pela crise enfrentada pelo país latino-americano. Em contraste com o caso da ALBA, este artigo discute a ascensão da UNASUL como um esforço coletivo e os esforços de seus membros para criar um marco regional que inclui uma nova proposta de um Centro de Solução Consensual de Controvérsias de Investimentos. A metodologia adotada é a de análise qualitativa das informações obtidas em bibliografia específica. Na parte final, conclui-se que...
eL dereCho humano a La identidad CuLturaL de Los migrantes, Fuentes internaCiona-Les y reCePCión ... more eL dereCho humano a La identidad CuLturaL de Los migrantes, Fuentes internaCiona-Les y reCePCión en ChiLe .
In 2003, the Venezuelan government launched the Bolivarian Misiones, a group of social programs a... more In 2003, the Venezuelan government launched the Bolivarian Misiones, a group of social programs and poverty alleviating initiatives intended to deliver goods and services directly to the population. These programs were financed with resources coming directly from the Special Oil Fund (SOF), a mechanism created by the executive to manage the windfall of petrodollars
This article discusses the self-regulation of social life by inmates inside a Venezuelan prison. ... more This article discusses the self-regulation of social life by inmates inside a Venezuelan prison. I focus on the development and use of intragroup indigenous norms, and institutions and processes, to handle individual and collective disputes arising out of social interactions between inmates, including the adjudication and enforcement mechanisms that ensure the effectiveness of the system. This article contributes to the emerging literature on private governance vis-à-vis state regulation and the factors that contribute to foster law-abiding behavior among those who are routinely seen at odds with the official legal system.
espanolEste articulo explora la interrelacion entre dos ordenamientos juridicos importantes: la p... more espanolEste articulo explora la interrelacion entre dos ordenamientos juridicos importantes: la proteccion internacional del trabajo y el arbitraje internacional. Su objetivo es resaltar la posible alineacion y capacidad de complementarse que tienen entre si, a pesar de haber seguido trayectorias independientes durante la mayoria de su historia institucional y de su aparente contrariedad. Tal como se explica en este articulo, la institucionalizacion de la proteccion internacional del trabajo y del arbitraje internacional tienen origen comun. Ambas ideas fueron promovidas durante los esfuerzos de construccion de paz luego del fin de la primera guerra mundial como parte de una nueva forma de gobernanza internacional dirigida a promover el desarrollo economico, la justicia social y sobre todo la paz mundial. Este articulo tambien demuestra que la llegada de la globalizacion a finales del siglo veinte sirvio de catalizador para la convergencia entre el arbitraje y la proteccion internac...
Agradezco a los participantes en estas conferencias y seminarios por sus comentarios y valiosos p... more Agradezco a los participantes en estas conferencias y seminarios por sus comentarios y valiosos puntos de vista. Marisol Floren-Romero proveyó un extraordinario apoyo bibliográfico para este proyecto. También agradezco a los miembros del comité editorial del ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law por su asistencia en la preparación de este artículo para publicación.
Este artigo descreve a situação atual da proteção ao consumidor na América Latina, com atenção es... more Este artigo descreve a situação atual da proteção ao consumidor na América Latina, com atenção especial aos esforços recentes realizados, tanto em nível nacional, como regional, e aos desafios enfrentados. Ele examina o panorama da tutela coletiva consumerista na região e também discute o uso de litígios transnacionais como uma estratégia corretiva para as deficiências do regime de proteção ao consumidor latino-americano. Como mostra o artigo, a despeito das muitas diferenças entre os sistemas jurídicos nacionais dos países latino-americanos, tem havido algumas tentativas de alcançar a sincronização regional. Desde o anteprojeto da CIDIP-VII elaborado sob a égide da Organização dos Estados Americanos (“OEA”), ao significativo esforço empreendido pela Conferência das Nações Unidas para o Comércio e o Desenvolvimento (“UNCTAD”) com o apoio do governo suíço; vários países agora podem coordenar suas atividades e trabalhar para harmonizar seus regimes jurídicos. Não obstante essa per...
The author wishes to thank the organizers of the USF Law Review Symposium, especially Elif Sonmez... more The author wishes to thank the organizers of the USF Law Review Symposium, especially Elif Sonmez for her superb organizational skills, and the participants in the alternative litigation finance panel, especially Professor Maya Steinitz and Inder Comar for their insightful and thought provoking comments. Thanks are also in order to the practitioners and industry experts that agreed to share their knowledge and experience about crowdfunding, and explain the ins and outs of this fascinating albeit relatively unknown industry. Last, but certainly not least, the author would like to express his appreciation to Alexander Guney and Jacqueline Forni for their incredible support and diligent editorial work on this Article.
Florida International University College of Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series, 2015
This article intends to explore the interplay between different dispute processing mechanisms and... more This article intends to explore the interplay between different dispute processing mechanisms and fora in the realm of transnational litigation, through the lens of the Chevron-Ecuador legal saga. My goal is to discuss the transformation of a transnational complex case and the challenges faced by the parties, their procedural strategies, and the perceived advantages of the different mechanisms. In this regard, I will also address the development of mechanisms for the protection of diffuse rights involving the environment; the role of the courts in supervising compliance with judicial remedies, their engagement in activities that go beyond their traditional role as simple adjudicators; and the role of privately formed entities in the administration and supervision of monetary awards in Ecuador.
he fascination of popular media with the operation of the legal system is not new. For many years... more he fascination of popular media with the operation of the legal system is not new. For many years, novelists, playwrights, and screenwriters have produced an endless catalogue of works focused on crime and punishment, trials, lawyers, judges, and other pieces of the intricate puzzle that comprises the legal system. The universe of such works is so vast that it has led to the development of many sub-genres, which have persevered throughout the evolution of the different artistic and intellectual forms of written, oral, and audiovisual expression.
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Books by Manuel Gomez
Every country, of course, has its own legal system, and no two systems are the same. But in teaching law and society, texts have focused nearly exclusively on American readings to the neglect of comparative and international work. This reader fills an obvious gap. It recognizes that law is increasingly global and cross-national, and shows how law relates to society in different times and places, the world over.
Papers by Manuel Gomez
Every country, of course, has its own legal system, and no two systems are the same. But in teaching law and society, texts have focused nearly exclusively on American readings to the neglect of comparative and international work. This reader fills an obvious gap. It recognizes that law is increasingly global and cross-national, and shows how law relates to society in different times and places, the world over.