Virginia Journal of International Law, Vol. 49-1: Online Symposium

The Virginia Journal of International Law is delighted to continue its partnership with Opinio Juris this week in this online symposium featuring three articles recently published by VJIL in Vol. 49:1, available here.

On Tuesday, James Hathaway, Dean of the Melbourne Law School, will discuss his article, The Human Rights Quagmire of “Human Trafficking”. Dean Hathaway’s article takes a critical look at the international community’s recent efforts to fight human trafficking through the Trafficking Protocol. Hathaway argues that the international fight against human trafficking is more fundamentally in tension with core human rights goals than has generally been recognized. Hathaway then examines the underlying reasons for the absence of meaningful and effective anti-human trafficking protections, highlighting the development and influences behind the current means employed and offers a perspective on a different approach without harmful externalities. Professor David Kyle of UC Davis will be the respondent.

On Wednesday, Professor Roger Alford of Pepperdine University School of Law will discuss his article, The Nobel Effect: Nobel Peace Prize Laureates as International Norm Entrepreneurs. In his article, Professor Alford presents the history of modern international law from the perspective of the constructivist theory of international relations. His article applies the constructivist theory of international relations to argue that Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have been profoundly instrumental as norm entrepreneurs in the emergence, cascading, and internalization of international law norms. Professor Gregory Gordon of the University of North Dakota School of Law and Anne Kjelling, Head Librarian at the Norwegian Nobel Institute, will be the respondents.

On Thursday, Professor Diane Ring of Boston College Law School will discuss her article, What’s at Stake in the Sovereignty Debate?: International Tax and the Nation-State. Professor Ring examines what precisely is meant by sovereignty and what place it has in international tax policy. Her article contends that a loss of sovereignty undermines both significant functional roles played by a nation-state (revenue and fiscal policy) and important normative governance values (accountability and democratic legitimacy). Professor Kimberly Brooks of McGill University and Professor Allison Christians of the University of Wisconsin Law School will be the respondents.

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