The Rule of Law: The Justice Sector and Economic Development

Foreign policy necessitates that many developing and developed countries advocate and promote the rule of law; the rule of law is seen as a sine qua non for development and peace. In this book Maria Dakolias and Sandra E. Oxner argue that the establishment of the rule of law if not a project but a value and that the challenge is achieving the broad objectives set out under the rule of law because until now it has been difficult to demonstrate success. Lack of demonstration, however, does not mean that time has been wasted. It simply means that it is now time to demonstrate how reforms related to the justice sector and the rule of law have and will continue to contribute to economic development. This book reflects an evolving methodology in the development of the rule of law, containing seven perspectives using different methods to demonstrate its impact. The main findings are that experience has given us opportunities to improve how rule of law is supported. However, there is no established methodology to measure success. These chapters contribute to the conversation of methods to evaluate and monitor reforms. It also provides a way to bring together practitioners and academicians in their common search for methodologies that may be successful in demonstrating that rule of law can and does make a difference. It is also hoped that this work will stimulate further research and collaboration between practitioners and academicians.

1. How have the Objectives Evolved to Promoting the Rule of Law? 2. What has Influenced this Evolution? 3. What has been Achieved until Now? 4. What are the Greatest Difficulties/Risks Today? 5. What May Some of the Challenges be to Make Such Changes? 6. What Kind of Methodology Should be Promoted? 7. What Should the Priorities be in the Justice Sector Area? 8. What can be Expected in the Justice Sector in the Next Ten Years/Future?