The purpose of this glossary is to provide brief explanatory commentaries on the main terms and concepts used in international investment agreements (IIAs). These terms and concepts have mainly a legal connotation and have been selected because they provide a broad coverage of the principal issues that are dealt with in IIAs. The commentaries are based to a large extent on the papers that have been published in the UNCTAD Series on Issues in International Investment Agreements and reference to such papers is made whenever appropriate.

Each entry provides a short definition of the term, followed by examples of relevant provisions in IIAs. To allow for additional information on specific topics, each entry has been complemented by references to related publications for further reading. A list explaining frequently used abbreviations precedes the text, whereas a listing of IIAs can be found at the end of the paper. An index at the end of the paper is meant to facilitate the use of this glossary.