31^st ANZSIL Annual Conference 2024

International Law: Crisis, Conflict and Cooperation
31^st Annual Conference of the
Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law

Melbourne Law School
Melbourne, Australia
Wednesday, 3 July – Friday, 5 July 2024

Co-hosted by the Institute for International Law and the Humanities (IILAH)
at Melbourne Law School

The Call for Papers has now closed.

‘International lawyers revel in a good crisis. A crisis provides a focus for the development of the discipline and it also allows international lawyers the sense that their work is of immediate, intense relevance.’*

These words, written by Judge Hilary Charlesworth over twenty years ago, provide a starting point for considering the role of international law in dealing with crises in the international community. Crises may be the result of armed conflicts, human rights violations, climate change, environmental damage, disruptions in the financial system or global trade, and, as we have so recently experienced, pandemics. The framing of an event or situation as a crisis may lead to intense periods of coordination and cooperation, and result in rapid developments in international law. Examples may be found in the increased activities of regional and international organisations, the creation of new organisations or legal instruments, the hosting of dedicated conferences to discuss problems of global concern, and increased collaboration between states, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations.

However, the focus on crises has also led to conflicts within the discipline as to the applicable legal principles or appropriate theoretical lens through which to frame a situation. As Judge Charlesworth noted, views may differ on whether a situation amounts to a crisis in need of an immediate response from international lawyers and whether the focus on crises distracts international lawyers from systemic issues. Is it still accurate to frame international law as a discipline ‘of’ crisis, or indeed, as has been suggested, a discipline ‘in’ crisis?  Have patterns in how international lawyers deal with crises changed over time? What are the problems and limitations on how we frame and read crises? What crises do we focus on and what crises do we ignore? How are disputes arising out of crises resolved? Do states have a duty to cooperate to respond to conflicts and crises? Do crises lead to periods of conflict or cooperation within the discipline? How do we strengthen cooperation within the discipline for lasting impact?

We invite participants at the 31st ANZSIL Annual Conference to consider the impact of periods of crises on the development of international law and institutions, and whether the focus on crises has led to conflicts, or renewed cooperation, within the discipline. The Organising Committee invites paper submissions and panel proposals in any area of public and private international law relevant to the Conference theme. In the tradition of ANZSIL Conferences, the Organising Committee also invites proposals on international law topics not connected to the conference theme and the submission of panel proposals from ANZSIL interest groups.

*Hilary Charlesworth, ‘International Law: A Discipline of Crisis’ (2002) 65 Modern Law Review 377.

Registration

Registration is now open for the ANZSIL Annual Conference 2024.  Information about registration options, the venue and accommodation is available here.