AUWCL Proudly Co-Sponsors 21st Annual Grotius Lecture
International & Comparative Legal Studies (ICLS) hosted, once again, the 21st Annual Grotius Lecture that also serves as the opening lecture for the Annual Meeting American Society of International Law (ASIL). The Grotius Lectures were initiated over 20 years ago by AUWCL’s International Legal Studies Program in collaboration with American Society of International Law (ASIL). The Speaker this year was Professor Martti Kokenniemi from University of Helsinki.
The theme of Koskenniemi’s lecture was “Enchanted by the Tools? International Law and Enlightenment.” Koskenniemi questioned whether the backlash in the West and around the world against international law, international institutions and their ruling elites, is partly due to international law being seen as an instrument for somebody’s purposes with emphasis on individual rights. Koskenniemi suggested that there is something self-perpetuating in “reform” of international law and the fact that international law has never been an efficient instrument for social engineering and that the more it tried to engage in it, the less credible it appeared. Instead, Koskenniemi proposed international law should be seen in terms of a conversation about global justice, as a standard of criticism of other people’s projects, and as a “new enlightenment." Professor Anne Orford of University of Melbourne served as the commentator.
The event was moderated by AUWCL Dean Camille Nelson, and opened and closed by ASIL President Sean Murphy.
These self-critical comments came timely as the international legal order is facing a growing backlash from a variety of countries with varying ideologies and socioeconomic backgrounds. This lecture will be an important piece in the wider debate about international law’s role in the response of humankind to our worldwide challenges.