Call for Panels: International Law and National Politics (in New York)

Vom 20. bis zum 22. Oktober findet in New York das International Law Weekend statt. Ein scheinbar recht großes und buntes Treiben, das zudem dieses Jahr mit dem Thema „International Law and National Politics“ einen Schwerpunkt setzt, der auch für Politikwissenschaftler anschlußfähig ist. Bis zum 04. Mai gilt die Aufforderung Vorschläge für Panels zu machen, die auch bereits die Namen von möglichen Diskutanten enthalten sollen. Wer interessiert ist, der lese nach dem Strich weiter.

On October 20-22, 2011, the American Branch of the International Law Association and the International Law Students Association will host the annual New York-based International Law Weekend (“ILW”), in conjunction with the 90^th annual meeting of the American Branch.  “ILW 2011” will bring together hundreds of legal practitioners, professors, U.N. diplomats, experts from government, NGO’s and private industry, and students.  It will feature lively and contentious panels, distinguished speakers, and delicious receptions.

The overall theme of ILW 2011 is “International Law and National Politics.”

This year’s three-day conference will focus on issues arising from the interplay and intersection of international rules and norms and domestic politics and policymaking.  To what extent do international standards influence the application and interpretation of national law including complimentary or contrary policies sought by domestic policymakers, non-governmental actors and/or civil society?  Expert panels and discussion sessions will examine these and other issues with regard to such diverse areas as human rights and humanitarian intervention, national security, immigration, trade, labor, health care and the environment.  Though this is the primary focus of the conference, other inventive ideas and proposals, especially arising from current events, are always welcome for consideration as well.

The Co-Chairs of ILW 2011 are Professor Martin S. Flaherty, Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School, mflaherty17@yahoo.com, Sahra Diament of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, diament@un.org, and Jill Schmieder Hereau, Program Coordinator at the International Law Students Association, jshereau@ilsa.org.

The Co-Chairs invite proposals for panels for ILW 2011.  Please submit proposals by email to each of the Co-Chairs no later than Wednesday, May 4, 2011.  Please also submit a copy of your proposal to ILA president Ruth Wedgwood, at rwedgwood@jhu.edu and to ILA executive committee chairman John Noyes, jen@cwsl.edu.

The proposals should be structured for 90-minute panels, and should include a formal title, a brief description of the subjects to be covered (no more than 75 words), and the names, titles, and affiliations of the panel chair and three or four likely speakers, with their contact information.  The proposals should also describe the format envisaged (point-counterpoint, roundtable, or other).  One of the objectives of ILW 2011 is to promote a dialogue among scholars and practitioners from across the legal spectrum, so whenever possible, panels should include presentations of divergent views. In addition, interactive discussions and moderated roundtables are welcome, rather than the traditional format of reading papers.

The inclusion of a broad range of speakers, including lawyers from the United Nations, diplomats from U.N. missions, private practitioners, government regulatory experts and experts from industry are welcome, quite apart from the usual broad range of academic writers and speakers.  We seek, above all else, informative and interesting debate.