Call for Papers: The Case of Crimea in the Light of International Law

The Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding and the Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences has issued a call for papers for a conference on "The Case of Crimea in the Light of International Law: its Nature and Implications." Here's the call:

The Case of Crimea in the Light of International Law: its Nature and Implications

Crimea-Russia-Ukraine: a Year After

International Conference

Organising Committee: The Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding and the Institute of Law Studies of Polish Academy of Sciences.

The Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding headed by Dr. Sławomir Dębski is a legal entity founded by an act of Parliament. Its mission is to initiate and support projects dedicated to improving dialogue and understanding between the two countries. It is also dedicated to introducing and supporting educational initiatives on these topics in Poland and Russia as well as organizing conferences, symposia, and other discussions related to these issues.

The Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences is one of the most prominent scientific research institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences within the area of social sciences. The function of the Institute managed by Prof. Władysław Czapliński is to coordinate and conduct basic research in the area of legal studies, both from the theoretical and practical perspectives.

When: 19-20 March 2015

Where: Foksal Press Centre, Foksal Street 3/5, 00-366 Warsaw, Poland

The annexation of Crimea and the subsequent Russian interference in Eastern Ukraine pose a challenge to contemporary, widely-accepted system of international norms. This deliberate attempt to change political and legal order established after the Second World War requires in-depth assessment through the prism of law. It is of utmost importance to replace “law talk” with rigorous legal analysis of those events given their possible implications for the international law. Special attention shall be given to the following legal issues: the use of force and the threat of use of force, the crime of aggression, annexation, incorporation, occupation, recognition/non-recognition, state responsibility, individual responsibility, statehood and self-determination in international law, territorial integrity, state support for the armed bands, groups, irregulars or mercenaries, the nature of direct participation of regular armed forces without insignia in combat.

Call for papers:

Submission of papers proposals:

The Organizing Committee of the Conference “The Case of Crimea in the Light of International Law: its Nature and Implications” now invites proposals for conference papers.

Proposals for papers may include both theoretical studies and selected case studies and shall fall within the following streams:

1. Self-determination and the right to secession (Whether they are contradictory or complementary? What is the scope of the right to self-determination? What is the relation between self-determination and autonomy? What are the implications of the annexation of Crimea with respect to the Eastern Ukraine?)

2. Defining the use of force, aggression, armed attack (What are the legitimate reactions to unlawful use of force? Does use of force or an armed attack constitute a war?, What is the scope of the prohibition of use of force established in the UN Charter?)

3. International responsibility (state responsibility and the responsibility of the individual) (What are the consequences of the state's international responsibility?, What is the responsibility for the violation of humanitarian law?, Are targeted sanctions enforcing responsibility against individual or a state?

4. Recognition in international law (Is a conflict between constitutive and normative theories still relevant? What is the impact of non-recognition on the scope of international obligations? What is the role of recognition in creating international subjectivity?

5. Reactions of international community (Are economic sanctions/ targeted sanctions effective? When and what kind of sanctions are effective? What kind of sanctions are appropriate for flagrant breaking of international law? What are the responsibilities of the international community in the case of an annexation of foreign territory?)

Application procedure:

Speakers will be selected on the basis of abstracts submitted in response to this Call for Papers. Both senior and junior scholars (PhD students included) are encouraged to apply.

Selection:

All proposals will be selected through a peer-review process from the abstracts received in response to this Call. Submission of a paper proposal:

Proposals must contain the following elements: author’s name and affiliation; paper title; paper abstract – abstracts must not exceed 500 words in English; abstracts must adequately set out the author’s argument and its implications for one of the general themes of the Conference. The time limit for each selected speech in sessions is max. 15 min. A short presentation (communiqué) should not exceed 7 min. Limitations above may not apply to papers to be published after the conference.

Timeline:

The Call for Papers is now open. Please send proposals via e-mail in a separate attached file (doc., docx., rtf., pdf) to: crimeaconference2015@yahoo.pl Deadline for the submission of proposals: 30 November 2014.

Proposals received after this date will not be considered.

Applicants will be informed of the selection decision by: 10 December 2014.

Conference fee: 100 Euro

Early bird fee (paid to the end of December 2014): 75 Euro