"Rising Powers" and Labour and Environmental Standards

There is a growing recognition that the "Rising Powers", namely the emerging economies, in particular, but not only, China, India and Brazil, whose economic dynamism has begun to transform the contours of the global economy, will bring about radical shifts in global governance. A critical question that arises is how might these countries influence the "rules of the game" that pertain to international trade, particularly those relating to process standards associated with labour conditions and environmental impacts. This special issue provides an initial attempt to address this agenda. This article defines the concept of "Rising Powers" and considers how these economies might challenge the governance of labour and environmental standards. It outlines the objectives of this collection, provides an overview of individual contributions and suggests areas for further research. © 2014 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis.