International Commercial Law And Arbitration: Adr In International Law, The UN Framework, And Practical Gaps

Abstract

International business creates legal problems that do not fit neatly inside one country’s court system. Companies trade goods, share technology, build projects, and move money across borders, often with partners they may never meet in person. When a dispute happens, the main question is not only “Who is right?” but also “Where will the dispute be decided, and will the final decision be respected in other countries?” This research explains how Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) - in particular international commercial arbitration - answers those questions. It opens with ADR as a general concept in the sphere of international law and relates it to how the United Nations (UN) approaches peaceful dispute settlement. It then explains, in detail, arbitration: how it operates, why businesses use it, and what makes it different from court litigation. After that, the research examines the most important UN-based legal framework that applies to arbitrations, especially the New York Convention of 1958 on the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards, and the UNCITRAL Model Law that many countries employ to structure their legislation on arbitration. It also places arbitration inside the wider world of international commercial law, including how international contract rules such as the CISG reduce legal uncertainty in cross-border trade. Finally, it identifies major gaps: uneven court attitudes, misuse of the “public policy” exception, problems with non-signatories, delay and cost, unequal bargaining power, and the challenge of handling modern disputes involving multiple parties and urgent interim relief. The research ends with practical recommendations aimed at law reform, better drafting of arbitration clauses, improved court–arbitration cooperation, and stronger ethical and procedural safeguards.