Workshop: Recent Research in the History of Public International Law

Workshop: Recent Research in the History of Public International Law

Veranstalter
Institut für Rechtsgeschichte, Universität Gent
Veranstaltungsort
Auditorium B - Jurafakultät - Universiteitstraat 4, 9000 Gent - BELGIEN
Ort
Gent
Land
Belgium
Vom - Bis
23.05.2014 -
Deadline
20.05.2014
Von
Dr. Frederik Dhondt

Legal history has mostly been that of private law, with a focus on roman and canon law as the common intellectual matrix of European lawyers. Public law within the state was constructed as an exception to principles of private law (Loughlin). As a collection of rules governing the vertical exercise of power, the history of public law bordered on political philosophy (Israel) and intellectual history (Skinner/Ottmann), a characteristic applicable to public international law as well (Armitage). The law covering relations between sovereign states can thus be seen as a specific reading of diplomatic history (Grewe), on the one hand, or as an application of general natural law ideas, blended with private law analogies (Lauterpacht), on the other.

It is tempting to fall into skepticism on the mere possibility of binding rules between sovereign states. Virtually, since the Stone Age, the fundamental international state of anarchy between independent political entities has not been lifted (Van Caenegem). When it comes to Great Power politics, no superstate or “Civitas Maxima” (in the terms of Christian Wolff) can coerce trespassers or enforce norms and principles. Scant references to recent situations of deadlock within the Security Council (Syria, Iraq) can suffice. Yet, this renders the instrumental use of legal history for contemporary lawyers even more relevant. Dilemmas of just war (Mattei/Rech/Whitman), equality (Simpson) or hegemony in international society (Clark), arbitration (Morgenthau), neutrality (Neff), maritime law, sources of international law or multilateral diplomacy have their historical pedigree in the state system of Europe (Lesaffer/Osiander) and outside (Kolb). Big authors of canon law, humanist doctrine, Enlightenment or positivist 19th century scholarship (Anghie/Sylvest) contain a useful arsenal of argumentation (Scott). The enduring success of an author like Vattel in US case law and foreign office discourse learns that a good argument in public international law is not judged on its age or origin (Chetail).

Next to these questions of dialogue between contemporary public international law and its long tradition, the similarity of state behaviour across time offers opportunities to blend historical and legal research, in order to uncover the operation of the law, “the brewing of international law” (Crawford), or the consolidated core set of implicit assumptions when lawyers counsel their political masters (Bourdieu). The game of diplomacy is played by legal rules, constructed and referred to in practical legal argumentation. The essential, minimal function of the Law of Nations is one of conferring legitimacy to political compromise, rendering concessions acceptable through their conformability to common references or inter-state reciprocity and consent. Comparative studies over time, and thus an active dialogue between specialists of different periods, are greatly facilitated by recurring theoretical discussions (Koskenniemi 2005).
Finally, the emergence of transformative ambitions in international law, aiming to modify society through the imposition of liberal and providential values (Jouannet), sensu stricto pertaining to the internal legal order, has brought the individual on the forefront in both practice and theory (Hafner). As a militant lawyer (Koskenniemi 2001), as a victim of interstate conflict, or as a litigating actor before international jurisdictions.

The Ghent Workshop offers the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with young researchers from Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany, presenting their work in progress for discussion in three arena’s.

Programm

Welcome (09:15)
*
Introduction (09:45)
*
Session 1: The Old Regime and the Law of Nations (10:00-12:30)
“An assessment of legal humanist methodologies in the sphere of international law”
Drs. James Mearns (KULeuven/Research Foundation Flanders)

“Free ship – Free good”. Evolution and contest of a legal principle via intercultural conflicts on the oceans”
Dr. Magnus Ressel (Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt)

“Prize Courts and International Law”
Dra. Shavana Musa (Tilburg University)

“Mos Trajectensis” ? Law in diplomatic practice in the early 18th Century”
Dr. Frederik Dhondt (Ghent University)

*
Lunch break (12:30-13:30)
*
Session 2: 1789-1815 as a turning point ? The Revolutionary Wars, the Congress of Vienna and their effects on inter-state relations and constitutions (13:30-15:00)
“Friedrich Gentz et le droit d'intervention armée”
Dr. Raphael Cahen (Aix-en-Provence/LMU München)

“The Birth of the Westphalian Order: 1789-1815 as turning point towards abstract states and equality in international legal practice and doctrine?”
Dr. Raymond Kubben (Tilburg University)

*
Session 3: The 19th century transformation of international law
(15:15-17:15)
“'The legality of the European acquisition of Africa (1870-1914): Ex facto ius oritur?”
Dra. Mieke Van Der Linden (Tilburg University)

“The legal dynamics of British imperialism (1815-1860)”
Dra. Inge Van Hulle (KULeuven/Research Foundation Flanders)

“The Use of Force in the Nineteenth Century – Reflections on the Origins and the Reproduction of the ‘Indifference’-Narrative in Contemporary Legal Doctrine ”
Dra. Agatha Verdebout (ULB)
*
Conclusion (17:45)
Prof. Dr. Randall Lesaffer (Tilburg University/KUleuven)

Kontakt

Frederik Dhondt

Universiteitstraat 4, 9000 Gent

Frederik.Dhondt@UGent.be

http://www.rechtsgeschiedenis.be
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Englisch, Französisch
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