Call for Papers: What Is Private International Law?

The Private International Law Interest Group of the American Society of International Law has issued a call for papers for a conference on "What Is Private International Law?" Here's the call:

Call for Papers / Conference Announcement

ASIL Private International Law Interest Group

What is Private International Law?

Globalization increases the importance of private actors and private arrangements. And yet, while other disciplines are responding to these challenges, private international law seems mired in its past, unable to reform sufficiently. This suggests that it is time to ask foundational questions about our field. What is private international law today? Does it promote any polices or values, and if so, which are those? Is it just rules designating the applicable law? Does it include conflicts rules for public law? Should it include substantive private law? Privately made law beyond the state? What is its place in international law more generally, especially vis-à-vis public international law? What is its role in global governance? And is private international law relevant today, or can its former functions be fulfilled by other areas of the law?

In order to kindle this debate, the Private International Law Interest Group of the American Society of International Law is launching a call for papers that answer some or all of these foundational questions. Those interested in participating should submit an abstract no longer than 500 words. Finished papers and drafts are welcome as well. The deadline for submission of abstracts is May 15, 2012.

On 5/6 October 2012, the ASIL Private International Law Interest Group will, together with the Center for International and Comparative Law at Duke University, organize a 1½ day conference to discuss selected papers and ideas emerging from this call. We also plan to publish the papers selected for presentation in a special edition of an international law journal or a volume of collected papers. The venue of the conference and place of publication will be announced in early 2012.

A special invitation goes to authors under 35 years of age. The author under 35 of the best finished paper will be the winner of this year’s Private international Law Prize of the American Society of International Law. The prize money ($500) will be paid as a stipend to enable the author to participate in the conference and present his or her paper.

Submissions should be emailed to Ralf Michaels (michaels[at]law.duke.edu) and Rahim Moloo (rahim.moloo[at]nyu.edu) by May 15, 2012. Decisions on both invitations to present at the conference and on the ASIL Prize will be made by July 1.