Introduction

This introductory chapter establishes the foundational framework for analysing international investment law from a Caribbean perspective, examining foreign direct investment patterns across English-speaking Caribbean territories. The chapter traces the evolution of the international investment regime from colonial-era protections through contemporary bilateral investment treaties, demonstrating how Caribbean states were subject to ‘imposed bilateralism’ during asymmetrical negotiations. It critically examines both purported advantages of FDI – including technology transfer, employment creation, and infrastructure development – and significant disadvantages such as excessive investment incentives, profit expatriation, and environmental degradation. The chapter reveals structural defects in investment law, including treaty shopping, regulatory chill, and colonial continuities, establishing the imperative for fundamental reform to better align investment protection with Caribbean development needs.