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
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'.