This book investigates the mechanisms and legal frameworks governing the inclusion of non-state stakeholders within treaty-based intergovernmental organizations. Joost Pauwelyn, an expert in international economic law, analyzes the evolution of institutional practices regarding participation. He provides a systematic evaluation of how international bodies have adapted their formal structures to incorporate voices beyond traditional state actors, assessing both the successes and the persistent limitations of these reforms.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of institutional design in international law. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for scholars and practitioners in the field of global governance.