VJIL Vol. 48-2: Opinio Juris Online Symposium

The Virginia Journal of International Law is pleased to continue its partnership with Opinio Juris in this second online symposium. This week, we will be featuring two articles and one essay just published by VJIL in Vol. 48-2, available here. Thank you to the moderators of Opinio Juris for making available this great forum for discussion.



On Tuesday, Haider Ala Hamoudi (University of Pittsburgh) will discuss his article, You Say You Want a Revolution: Interpretive Communities and the Origins of Islamic Finance. Professor Hamoudi’s article examines the jurisprudential philosophy of Iraqi Shi’i jurist Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr to demonstrate how some of Sadr’s radical notions can be used to make the shari’a a more salutary force in the economic and social order of Muslim states. Chibli Mallat of St. Joseph’s University (Beirut, Lebanon) will be the respondent.



On Wednesday, William Burke-White (University of Pennsylvania) and Andreas von Staden will discuss their article, Investment Protection in Extraordinary Times: The Interpretation and Application of Non-Precluded Measures Provisions in Bilateral Investment Treaties. In their article, Professors Burke-White and Mr. von Staden provide a detailed study of NPM clauses in international investment law and offer a framework for the interpretation of NPM clauses based on the practice of key states. Susan Franck (University of Nebraska) will be the respondent.



On Thursday, Jacob Katz Cogan (University of Cincinnati) will discuss his essay, Competition and Control in International Adjudication. Professor Cogan challenges the standard view that States have sufficient tools to constrain international courts and argues that increasing competition among international courts will more effectively constrain international judicial power and thereby increase the likelihood that States will accede to this authority. Monica Hakimi (Cardozo) and Larry Helfer (Vanderbilt) will be the respondents.



We hope that you will join in the online discussion this week. When the symposium concludes, please keep in contact with us through our website to continue the conversation.