Forum 1: An Era of International Law? The Years 1989-2010 in Perspective

Chaired by Professor Philip Allott

1989 is recognised as a turning point in history. Was it also a turning point in international law? Does the period 1989-2010 represent a distinct international legal era and, if so, according to what criteria?  Does it represent several eras? Has 2001 been more decisive than 1989? What has changed in international law since 1989 and what has remained the same?

1989-2009 ou le triomphe du droit international libéral-providentialiste

PROFESSOR EMMANUELLE JOUANNET, Professor of Internaitonal Law, Université Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne

Résumé:La chute du mur de Berlin en 1989 signe le triomphe d’un droit international libéral et providentialiste. A la faveur du consensus retrouvé entre les ennemis d’hier et la fin du clivage idéologique de la guerre froide, le droit international contemporain est pleinement devenu un droit qui est à la fois garant des droits et libertés politiques et économiques des Etats et des individus (finalité libérale) et du bien-être collectif de tous (finalité providentialiste). Mais une telle évolution n’est pas sans susciter de considérables difficultés. Le propos de l’intervention sera de présenter les traits les plus caractéristiques de cette évolution post-guerre froide mais aussi d’en repérer les difficultés les plus préoccupantes, notamment au regard d’une société internationale dont le caractère mondialisé et global n’a pas fait disparaître les inégalités coloniales/postcoloniales de traitement entre Etats faibles et Etats forts, et qui, de plus, a fait ressurgir de multiples revendications identitaires et culturelle.

Biographie: Emmanuelle Jouannet est docteur en droit et agrégée des universités françaises. Elle est actuellement Professeur de droit international à l’Université de Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne), responsable légale du Master droit international de l’Université de Paris I et directrice de la Maîtrise de droit international. Elle est membre de l’Editorial Board de l’EJIL et des comités de rédaction des Archives de Philosophie du droit et de la Revue belge de droit international. Elle enseigne et fait des recherches en droit international, contentieux international, droits de l’homme et droit humanitaire et en histoire et philosophie du droit.

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The End of the Cold War: an epochal event in the history of international law?

PROFESSOR RANDALL LESAFFER, Professor of Legal History, Tilburg University and Catholic University of Leuven

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to assess whether the end of the Cold war constitutes an epochal event in the history of international and whether it heralded a new epoch in that history. For this, we look at the period through the perspective of three grand narratives in the historiography of international law: the hegemonic, the Eurocentric and the state-centric. The latter appears to be the most relevant for our purposes. The post-Cold War years constitute another gradual step away from a system premised on the sovereign state. The balance between state sovereignty and international community is slowly shifting further. The post-Cold War Age – if one wants to consider an ‘age’ that has not ended yet just that – can best be called a third sub-period in the ‘Age of Mankind’, the ‘Age of Universal International Law’ or the ‘Age of the International Community’ after the Interbellum and the Cold War Age.

Biography: Randall Lesaffer (Bruges, 1968) studied law and history at Ghent and Leuven and obtained his PhD in 1998 from the latter university. He is professor of legal history at Tilburg University and also holds a part-time professorship at the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Leuven. Most of his publications deal with the history of the classical law of nations (16-18th century). He currently serves as  dean of the Tilburg Law School (2008-2012).

Lesaffer - Draft ESIL Paper »

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The impact of the East-West divide on international law - patterns of discourse and the waves of 1989

PROFESSOR TIBOR VÁRADY, Professor of Law, Central European University, Budapest and Emory University, Atlanta

Abstract:  The East-West divide had an important impact on international law. Both the rift itself, as well as endeavors to prevail over it, yielded much inspiration and motivation. The paper is facing the question how international law coped with this confrontation – and how the end of the confrontation influenced international law. The question also arises whether some patterns of thoughts and arguments which lost ground with the collapse of communism managed to find refuge in different environments and contexts.

Attention has been devoted to rhetoric expressions of competition and confrontation, focusing i.a. on titles of legislative acts.

The point has been made that international law became a strong positive symbol with inherent power and positive connotations, with which all players wanted to associate themselves. Heeding this fact, the “East” found it important to posit itself on the side of international law. We have witnessed a constantly positive and affirmative language relating to international law in the USSR, and in East-European countries in which Soviet political influence was present (along with the Soviet Army). One of the important yields of 1989 was a consequential change of style, a critically important shift from rhetoric to reality. More room has also been created for re-emerging doubts.

It is stated in the concluding sentences of the paper that looking back at the situation prior to 1989, one can say that a step forward was indeed taken. Instead of discarding doubt (which was the Soviet style solution), we have now gained an opportunity to face its causes. And as a matter of fact, it is easier to cope with doubt than with slogans of exuberant loyalty.

Biography: Tibor Varady completed his legal education in Belgrade and at Harvard Law School (SJD). He was teaching at the University of Novi Sad until 1993. Since 1993 he has been a Professor at the Central European University in Budapest, and since 1999 he has also been a tenured professor at Emory University. Taught as visiting professor at several universities (including Berkeley, and Cornell).  Published 20 books and more than 200 articles. Acted as agent, counsel and advocate in 10 cases before the International Court of Justice. Acted as arbitrator in more than 200 cases. He has been  performing his professional activities in English, French, German, Serbian (Croatian, Bosnian Montenegrin) and Hungarian.

Varady - Draft ESIL Paper »

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