Theme

A paradox lies at the heart of today’s global governance. On the one hand, the ongoing globalization process and increasing intertwinement of States, together with the intrinsically transnational nature of many challenges, result in an ever deepening connectivity, which has the potential for, and often does lead to, new dynamics of multilateral cooperation in international law. On the other hand, though, we see new forms of contestation by a variety of States – emerging powers, countries from the Global South, recently even the US and the UK – against established principles, norms and institutions of international law. In some cases this contestation has triggered novel – but not necessarily inclusive – forms of cooperation, which contribute to the further development of international law, but also trigger new forms of contestation, especially by non-participants. In some cases, like the current Ukraine crisis, contestation takes a violent turn and involves military aggression, leading to yet other international responses and strengthened cooperation among various State and non-State actors.
The “contestation – cooperation paradox” is visible in many different fields of international law, from international trade law to international humanitarian law, space law and the law of international organizations. But is it truly a new phenomenon? Has international law not always oscillated between cooperation and contestation, the latter especially by new(er) members of the international community? Do we witness a new form of realpolitik, where States seek the most efficient way to serve their interests, sometimes even through a revival of military aggression? Are we seeing the emergence of new types of international instruments, forms of cooperation and solidarity that reflect changing normative preferences of States? Or are these the signs of a international rule of law in decline? This conference aims at addressing these questions, by looking at four different fields of international law – international trade law, institutional law, humanitarian law and space law – and by inviting experts from both academia and practice.

You can find the programme of the conference here

Online and physical event