Call for Papers: International Economic Law and Development in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

The African Association of International Law has issued a call for papers for a conference on "International Economic Law and Development in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities," to take place August 29-31, 2015, in Libreville. Here's the call:

CALL FOR PAPERS

Conference of the African Association of International Law

Libreville, Gabon

29 – 31 August 2015

Deadline for submissions of abstracts: 15 March 2015

Submissions from women are strongly encouraged

The African Association of International Law (AAIL) is pleased to announce its 2015 conference entitled: International Economic Law and Development in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities.

The AAIL, one of the first academic societies in the field of international law on the African continent, was established in 1986 by leading international lawyers including Abdulqawi Yusuf, Georges Abi-Saab, T.O. Elias, Keba Mbaye and Boutros Boutros-Ghali. The first volume of the African Yearbook of International Law was published by the AAIL in 1993, and has continued to be published under the auspices of the African Foundation of International Law (AFIL) established in 2003. The AAIL which was re-activated in 2012 is affiliated with both the Foundation and the African Institute of International Law based in Arusha, Tanzania.

THEME

The 2015 AAIL conference will explore the law in relation to economic development in Africa. In 2014 Africa maintained a phenomenal average growth of 5%, with a number of countries emerging as middle income countries. Yet inclusive growth and unequal wealth distribution remains a continent-wide challenge, while political fragility and conflict threaten to crumble even the most stable economies in the region. As the world begins to craft the post-2015 development agenda we ask:

• What legal frameworks are needed to ensure a conducive environment for sustained economic growth?
• How has international economic law (IEL) shaped the development agenda?
• Can justice, the rule of law and good governance play a role in inclusive economic growth?
• How effective have international and regional economic institutions been in promoting all aspects of development?
• What is the current state of investment arbitration and investment security in Africa?
• Are there correlations between economic growth and sustainable development of natural resources in Africa?

We invite papers which will tackle any of these questions or explore, from an African perspective, the developments, paradigms and issues that concern International Economic Law on the following topics:

• Foreign and south-south investment in Africa;
• Trade and trade facilitation;
• The gap between the regulatory framework and the implementation of International trade rules in Africa;
• International finance and monetary policy;
• Dispute settlement;
• Terrorism and its impact on Africa’s economic development;
• Intellectual property rights and technology acquisition;
• Energy and Power Africa;
• Sustainable development Goals and the Post-2015 Agenda;
• African economic integration in the context of regional economic communities;
• International economic law and its role in development agendas;
• The green economy and the impact of climate change on Africa economies;
• New research, methodologies or innovations in the teaching of International Economic Law in African Universities.

The working languages of the Conference are English and French. Submissions are welcome in either language. Only one submission per author will be considered. Submissions from women are strongly encouraged. Kindly send an abstract (300 – 500 words) of your paper including your curriculum vitae as well as contact details and institutional affiliation. These materials should be sent to: conference2015@aail-aadi.org before 15 March 2015.

Successful applicants will be notified by 31 March 2015. The deadline for submission of final papers is 30 June 2015. Conference fees will be waived for all selected panelists. An award will be given to the author(s) of the best paper of the conference. Selected papers will be published in the African Yearbook of International Law.

Should you have any questions about the conference or the call for papers, kindly contact Adejoké Babington-Ashaye, AAIL Director of Programmes at conference2015@aail-aadi.org.