ABSTRACT
Over the last few decades a variety of logos have come to symbolize the emergence of new forms of voluntary regulation which have been particularly associated with issues of social, economic and environmental justice impacting developing countries. While some of these initiatives have involved state actors, the vast majority have been initiated and governed exclusively by non-state actors, that is, by business and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This chapter examines whether non-state actors, absent any significant role by the state, can truly aspire to being effective regulators. More specifically, it is concerned with the conditions and likelihood of such non-state regulatory initiatives (NSRIs) contributing to the development prospects of people in the South, especially marginalized and vulnerable groups.
