Mining and the World Heritage Convention: Democratic Legitimacy and Treaty Compliance

International treaties and the institutions which administer them are increasingly the subjects of democratic scrutiny. In recent disputes surrounding mining projects in and around World Heritage Sites, the legitimacy of the World Heritage Convention regime has been attacked for a host of democratic failings. These accusations of democratic deficits originate from both opponents and supporters of the Convention regime. They challenge the compatibility of international processes with national law and institutions, raise questions of accountability and transparency, and revisit tensions between state sovereignty and common heritage. To foster compliance with the World Heritage Convention, we need to boldly engage with and address these democratic critiques.