‘Soft Law in a Hard Shell’: India, International Rulemaking and the International Solar Alliance

Abstract This article examines the creation of International Solar Alliance (ISA), a new international organization led by India and backed primarily developing countries. Official documents wide-ranging interviews offer insights into treaty-making process. Using political economy approach to study law, analyzes politico-legal issues associated with ISA. The legal form ISA is best described as ‘soft law in hard shell’: it uses infrastructure treaty while relying on social structure participating actors for its future implementation. Empirical evidence suggests that three factors explain ISA: India's leadership role process, early involvement non-state actors, preference countries form. Ultimately, case illustrates shift towards climate change governance, steady emergence driving action.