Call for Papers: ANZSIL 25th Annual Conference

The Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law has issued a call for papers for its 25th Annual Conference, to take place June 29-July 1, 2017, in Canberra. The theme is "Sustaining the International Legal Order in an Era of Rising Nationalism." Here's the call:

25th Annual Conference of the
Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law

Canberra, 29 June–1 July 2017

Sustaining the International Legal Order
in an Era of Rising Nationalism

The 25th ANZSIL Annual Conference will take place from Thursday, 29 June, to Saturday, 1 July 2017 at Hotel QT Canberra, 1 London Circuit, Canberra, Australia. The Conference Organising Committee now invites proposals for papers to be presented at the Conference, either individually, or as a panel.

Call for Papers and Panels: Deadline 24 February 2017

This Silver Jubilee ANZSIL Conference takes place amidst a resurgence of nationalism around the world. In Europe, political parties with anti-immigration platforms have gained popularity and Britain has voted to leave the European Union. In the United States, antiglobalisation and protectionist rhetoric fell on fertile electoral ground during the 2016 presidential election campaign. A wave of nationalist sentiment has also swept through Asia, leading to new arms races and strategic contests over Asia’s seas.

These developments lend some support to the notion, mistakenly attributed to Mark Twain, that while history does not repeat itself, it does rhyme. Indeed, the first ANZSIL Conference in 1993 was held at a time when the euphoria of the fall of the Berlin Wall was becoming a nationalist ‘hangover’: ethnic conflicts had engulfed parts of Europe and Samuel Huntington predicted a clash of civilisations.

In those immediate post-Cold War years, however, the international legal order was called upon to ensure stability through increased regionalism and multilateralism. Faced with today’s challenges, the role of international law seems less clear. States can certainly rely on international law processes – say, withdrawal from treaties and international organisations – in an attempt to turn back the clock on globalisation and multilateralism. But can this succeed? What are the alternatives? What role for international law? What future for global governance?

The Conference Organising Committee invites paper submissions reflecting on these themes in any area of public and private international law including (but not limited to): human rights; international humanitarian law; international trade law; international investment law; international financial regulation; the law of the sea, airspace and outer space; international environmental law; international criminal law; diplomatic and consular law. Submissions of all methodological persuasions are welcome, as are interdisciplinary papers connecting international law to the humanities, and social, natural and formal sciences.

The Conference Organising Committee also invites proposals for panels comprised of three to four papers in circumstances where the presenters concerned are already in conversation, or would find it useful to be so assembled. Proposed panels are expected to have a balanced gender representation. Also, panel proposals should endeavour to seek out a diversity of presenters in other respects, including their stage of career, type and place of work, discipline or sub-discipline, and so on.

In the tradition of ANZSIL Conferences, the Conference Organising Committee also invites and welcomes proposals on international law topics not connected to the conference theme.

Submission of Paper Proposals

Those proposing papers for presentation at the Conference should submit a single Word document comprised of:

• an abstract of no more than 250 words (papers with extracts in excess of 250 words will not be considered);
• a biographical note of no more than 200 words (for possible inclusion in the conference program); and
• a one-page curriculum vitae.

Submission of Panel Proposals

Those proposing panels for presentation at the Conference should submit a single document comprised of:

• a synopsis of no more than 250 words, explaining the rationale and theme of the panel; and
• three or four paper proposal, including in each case the information requested above for paper proposals.

The information requested above should be submitted in a single Word document by email to the ANZSIL Secretariat (anzsil@anu.edu.au) no later than Friday, 24 February 2017. Please include the heading on your email message ‘ANZSIL Conference 2017 Proposal: [Your Name]’.

The Conference Organising Committee aims to inform applicants of the outcome of their proposals by the end of March 2017.

Further information about the Conference, including program and registration details, will be available on the ANZSIL website.