ASIL–ESIL–Rechtskulturen Workshop, 

Cambridge Transatlantic Debates in International Legal Theory

Draft Programme

Thursday, 20 September 2012 

Welcome and Introductions
Marc Weller or Roger O’Keefe (Lauterpacht Centre)
Evan Criddle (Syracuse/ASIL) and Jörg Kammerhofer (Freiburg/ESIL)

Keynote Speech
Philip Allott (Cambridge), Law and Social Evolution

Panel 1 - Transatlantic Currents in International Legal Theory
Chair: Aeyal Gross (Tel Aviv)
- Monica Garcia-Salmones (Helsinki), What Divides Us in Truth Unites Us: The Interests’ Approach in the Transatlantic Debates in International Legal Theory
- John Parry (Lewis & Clark), Historicizing (and Abandoning?) the ‘Grotian Tradition’ in International Law
- Guglielmo Verdirame (KCL), International Law: Time for a Normative (Re) Turn?
Discussant: Patrick Capps (Bristol)

Formal Dinner at Clare College


Friday, 21 September 2012

Panel 2 - Treaty Interpretation in Comparative Perspective
Chair: John Linarelli (Swansea)
- Julian Arato (NYU), Treaty Interpretation and Constitutional
- Christian Djeffal (Humboldt), Transatlantic Divides on Treaty Interpretation
- Julian Davis Mortenson (Michigan), The Travaux of Travaux: A Historical Perspective on ‘American’ and ‘European’ Treaty Interpretation
Discussant: Stefan Oeter (Hamburg)

Coffee Break

Panel 3 - Theories of Institutional Legitimacy
Chair: Donald E. Childress III (Pepperdine)
- Nienke Grossman (Baltimore), New Approach to the Normative Legitimacy of International Courts
- Surabhi Ranganathan (Cambridge), Should Institutions Alter Multilateral Treaties? Scholarly Proposals, Underlying Visions, and the Degrees of ‘Difference’
- Christopher A. Whytock (UC Irvine), Resolving the Tension between Foreign State Immunity and Court Access Rights: European and U.S. Approaches
Discussant: John Tasioulas (UCL)

Catered Lunch in the Lauterpacht Centre Garden

Panel 4 - Transcending Parochialism in International Legal Theory
Chair: Tim Sellers (Baltimore)
- Rudy Baker (USC), The New Building Blocks of Customary International Law
- Tim Meyer (U Georgia), Title tbc
- Andreas Sennekamp and Nicolas Lamp (WTO), The Doctrine of Precedent: Precedent in Common Law, Civil Law and International Law
Discussant: Philip Liste (Hamburg)

Closing
Jörg Kammerhofer, Evan Criddle and Alexandra Kemmerer (Berlin/ Rechtskulturen)

European Society of International Law

Interest Group on International Legal Theory

Workshop, held on the occasion of the Fifth Biennial ESIL Conference on ‘Regionalism and International Law’

Valencia, 13–15 September 2012

Universalism and Particularism in International Law

The Topic

This panel will address the universal and the particular in the structures of international law and the role of regionalism in expressing, mediating or cutting across universal-particular dynamics. International legal scholars are accustomed to analysing questions of regionalism on the basis of general theories of normative differentiation and centre–periphery dynamics, typically adapted from social theory, historical sociology, or political economy. Indeed, only a few scholars have sought to undertake independent investigations into the competing interpretations of the concept of regionalism in international legal discourse itself. What might a sustained theorisation of the concept of regionalism in international law look like? How might such a theorisation relate to international legal debates animated by universalism and/or particularism? To what extent should international law recognize and support the political, historical, cultural, and economic differences among states?


General

Workshop Title: Universalism and Particularism in International Law

• Location: ADEIT-Fundación Universitat-Empresa, University of Valencia (http://www.adeit.uv.es/).
• Date and Time: Thursday, 13 September 2012, 10:00-12:00.
• One panel will be held. Each presentation will last for 20 minutes with 40 minutes reserved for discussion.


Programme

Aeyal Gross (Chair)

• Geoffrey Gordon, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Transnational legal studies dept. 'Cosmopolitanism and Regionalism in International Law'.
• Jaye Ellis, Associate Dean (Academic), Hydro-Québec Sustainable Development Law Scholar, Faculty of Law, McGill University. 'Law’s Deference to Expert Discourses as Grounding for Universal Validity'.
• Fabia  Veçoso, Doctoral Candidate in International Law, University of São Paulo. 'Assessing Regionalism in International Law'.
• John D. Haskell, Assistant Professor, Mississippi College School of Law; Honorary Research Fellow, Durham Law School. '"Against Culture": Indeterminacy and Structural Bias in Progressive International Legal Thought'.

Call for Papers - Valencia Workshop 2012

European Society of International Law

Interest Group on International Legal Theory

Workshop, held on the occasion of the Fifth Biennial ESIL Conference on ‘Regionalism and International Law’

Valencia, 13–15 September 2012

Call for Papers

Universalism and Particularism in International Law

On the occasion of the Fifth Biennial ESIL Conference in Valencia, the ESIL Interest Group on International Legal Theory invites submissions for a workshop on the theoretical dimensions of the universalism–particularism dynamic in international law.

The Topic

This panel will address the universal and the particular in the structures of international law and the role of regionalism in expressing, mediating, cutting across or subverting universal-particular dynamics. International legal scholars are accustomed to analysing questions of regionalism on the basis of general theories of normative differentiation and centre–periphery dynamics, typically adapted from social theory, historical sociology, or political economy. Indeed, only a few scholars have sought to undertake independent investigations into the competing interpretations of the concept of regionalism in international legal discourse itself. What might a sustained theorisation of the concept of regionalism in international law look like? How might such a theorisation relate to international legal debates animated by universalism and/or particularism? To what extent should international law recognize and support the political, historical, cultural, and economic differences among states?

The Application Process

We invite submissions of abstracts of no more than 400 words from all scholars with an interest in international legal theory. Selection will be based on scholarly merit, and with regard to producing an engaging workshop, but without prejudice to gender, seniority, language or geographical location.

Each submission should include the following:

(a)  a short curriculum vitae containing the author’s name, institutional affiliation, contact information and e-mail address;

(b) an abstract of no more than 400 words; and

(c)  the intended language of presentation.

Applications should be submitted to legaltheory@esil-sedi.eu by 1 April 2012. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process by 15 April 2012.

Please note that the ESIL Interest Group on International Legal Theory is unable to provide funds to cover the conference registration fee or related transport and accommodation costs.

For further information about the ESIL Interest Group on International Legal Theory, please see: http://esiligilt.blogspot.com

Call for Papers - Cambridge ASIL-ESIL Workshop 2012

ASIL–ESIL International Legal Theory Workshop

“Transatlantic Debates in International Legal Theory”

The International Legal Theory Interest Group of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), in partnership with the European Society of International Law (ESIL) Interest Group on International Legal Theory, will hold a joint works-in-progress workshop at the University of Cambridge’s Lauterpacht Centre for International Law on September 27–28, 2012.

The workshop’s theme is “Transatlantic Debates in International Legal Theory.” On many levels, the interaction between North American international legal scholarship and its European counterpart(s) is working very well. Time and again, however, one finds that the underlying theoretical or philosophical framework is radically different. In this workshop we would like to explore that difference without letting ourselves be defined by it. Contributions analyzing, criticizing, denying or celebrating the difference are welcome, as well as papers exemplifying the various theoretical approaches to international law, be they “American,” “European” or neither. The most important function of this workshop is to intensify the transatlantic theoretical debate by bringing together scholars with diverse disciplinary, philosophical, and methodological perspectives to discuss cutting-edge research on international legal theory.

Up to twelve papers will be selected for presentation. Although discussants will be assigned to introduce the papers, all workshop participants will be expected to read all of the contributions in advance and come prepared to contribute to the discussion.

Interested participants should submit an abstract (1,000 words maximum) summarizing the ideas they propose to develop for presentation at the workshop. Submissions on all topics related to international legal theory are encouraged, but preference will be given to proposals that engage the workshop’s theme. Papers that have been accepted for publication prior to the workshop are eligible for consideration, provided that they will not appear in print before the workshop.

The workshop’s organizers will undertake to secure outside funding to cover the costs of travel and accommodation for all scholars who present papers at the workshop, but they cannot, at this stage, guarantee its availability.

Abstract submissions should be sent to asil.esil.theory@gmail.com by April 20, 2012. Successful applicants will be notified by May 11, 2012. Papers must be fully drafted and ready for circulation to participants by August 31, 2012. Questions regarding the workshop may be directed to Evan Criddle (ecriddle@law.syr.edu) or Jörg Kammerhofer (joerg.kammerhofer@jura.uni-freiburg.de).