EDINBURGH LAW SCHOOL
PHD SYMPOSIUM IN INTERNATIONAL LAW 2013
Regime Interactions in Public International Law
Call for papers
The International Law Discussion Group of the University of Edinburgh, School of Law, is launching
a call for papers for its biennial spring Doctoral Symposium to take place on 17-18 June 2013. The
event will be dedicated to the topic of ‘Regime Interactions’. Doctoral students and early career
researchers are especially welcome to submit abstracts.
Today, the decentralized character of international law, together with the notion of functional
specialization of its institutions, has resulted in the multiplication of specialized regimes governing
almost all vital fields. This happens, for example, in trade law, law of the sea, human rights law,
environmental law, humanitarian law, criminal law, etc.. The interactions among these specialized
regimes have raised much debate in the academic community under different theoretical
perspectives (e.g. M. Young (ed.), Regime Interactions, Cambridge University Press, 2011). The
purpose of this symposium is to make a further contribution to understanding the role of regimes
and their interaction in the international legal system.
Interactions take place both horizontally, between regimes with distinct but overlapping
objectives, as well as vertically, between global and regional regimes dealing with the same
subject. Such interconnections have the potential to affect the rights and obligation of states
involved, creating legal uncertainty in international law if not properly addressed. The complexity
of the legal framework can also undermine the effectiveness of regimes in achieving their goals.
An understanding of how regimes interact on the fragmented international plane holds a key to a
more complete perspective of contemporary international law. In particular, papers will be
welcome addressing the one or more of following themes:
1) Theoretical aspects of regime interaction;
2) Interaction of law-making processes;
3) Regulation and control of regime interactions through the implementation of international law;
4) Management of interactions by courts and tribunals through interpretation and application of
the law;
5) The impact of multiple regimes on the effectiveness of international law.
The International Law Discussion Group is looking forward to sharing ideas and experiences among
the doctoral and early career research community. Different panels will be set up according to the
themes and papers received. Each panel will be organized in an interactive discursive manner and
will be chaired by academic member of staff, both internal and external to the Edinburgh School of
Law. The organizers will provide information about suitable accommodation, but participants are
expected to cover their own travel and accommodation costs.
The selection process will consist of the following stages:
a) Abstracts of a maximum of 250 words to be submitted by 1 March 2013 to
intlawdg@gmail.com;
b) Selected participants will be notified by 15 March 2013;
c) Final papers should be submitted by 15 May 2013.