Foreign investment has long been recognized as one of the pillars of the global economy, and is now a focus on significant public attention as many states — especially in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union — view it as the key to rescuing their economies. This course will examine the international community’s regulation of foreign investment, focussing upon the norms that have emerged over the past seventy years to govern this process. The class will primarily address investment abroad, in both developed and developing nations, although attention will also be given to restrictions on foreign investment in the United States. It will consider the protections required by international investors, e.g., those concerning establishment of new enterprises, transfers of profits, fair treatment, and expropriation. We will also discuss the increased focus on responsibilities of investors in the areas of human rights and environmental and labor standards. Resolution of investment disputes will also be covered. The course is designed both to shed light on the process of foreign investment as well as to demonstrate the relevance of international law to transnational business transactions. Completion of Transnational Law or an equivalent course in international law prior to taking this course is highly recommended but not required.