Events and Announcements: 5 December 2020

Announcements

Francis Lieber Prize 2021: The American Society of International Law’s Lieber Society on the Law of Armed Conflict awards the Francis Lieber Prize to the authors of publications that the judges consider to be outstanding in the field of law and armed conflict.  Both monographs and articles (including chapters in books of essays) are eligible for consideration — the prize is awarded to the best submission in each of these two categories.

• Criteria: Any work in the English language published during 2020 or whose publication is in final proof at the time of submission may be nominated for this prize.  Works that have already been considered for this prize may not be re-submitted.  Entries may address topics such as the use of force in international law, the conduct of hostilities during international and non‑international armed conflicts, protected persons and objects under the law of armed conflict, the law of weapons, operational law, rules of engagement, occupation law, peace operations, counter‑terrorist operations, and humanitarian assistance. Other topics bearing on the application of international law during armed conflict or other military operations are also appropriate.
• Eligibility: Anyone may apply for the article or book prize.  For those in academia or research institutions, the prize is open to those who are up to 8 years post-PhD or JD or those with up to 8 years in an academic teaching or research position. Membership in the American Society of International Law is not required.  Multi-authored works may be submitted if all the authors are eligible to enter the competition.  Submissions from outside the United States are welcomed.
• Submission: Submissions, including a letter or message of nomination, must be received by 10 January 2021.  Three copies of books must be submitted.  Electronic submission of articles is encouraged. Authors may submit their own work.  All submissions must include contact information (e‑mail, fax, phone, address) and relevant information demonstrating compliance with eligibility criteria.  The Prize Committee will acknowledge receipt of the submission by e‑mail.
• Prize:   The Selection Committee will select one submission for the award of the Francis Lieber Prize in the book category and one in the article category. The Prize consists of a certificate of recognition and a year’s membership in the American Society of International Law.  The winner of the Lieber Prize in both categories will be announced at the American Society of International Law’s Annual Meeting in April 2021. 

Printed submissions must be sent to: Professor Laurie Blank, Emory University School of Law, 1301 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia  30322, USA. Electronic submissions must be sent to: Lblank[at]emory[dot]edu.

Please indicate clearly in the subject line that the email concerns a submission for the Lieber Prize.

The 2020 Francis Lieber Prize winners were:

• Book prize: Aniel Caro de Beer, Peremptory Norms of General International Law (Jus Cogens) and the Prohibition of Terrorism (Brill 2019).
• Article prize: Ryan Liss, Crimes Against the Sovereign Order: Rethinking International Criminal Justice, 113 American Journal of International Law 727 (2019).

Research Funding Opportunity

Minerva Center for the Study of the Rule of Law under Extreme Conditions: The Minerva Center for the Study of the Rule of Law under Extreme Conditions at the University of Haifa (Faculty of Law and the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies), invites proposals for research activities, as outlined below. 

The General Purpose of the Minerva Center is to serve as an international venue and transnational forum for the study, research, training, education and publication in the areas of institutional, cultural, socioeconomic and policy aspects of the rule of law under the extreme conditions:

• National security emergencies  – wars, terrorism, counter terrorism, cyber and military actions.
• Natural and man-made disasters – epidemics, floods, storms, fires, tsunamis and earthquakes, including induced man-made natural disasters.
• Socioeconomic and political crises – economic meltdowns and severe sociopolitical fragmentation.

The Minerva Center may fund:

1. Graduate student (doctoral and master) scholarships.  These are available for students enrolled at the University of Haifa. (Applicants not yet enrolled at the University of Haifa but with appropriate topics may send a query to Dr. Ben Gal to see if there is a potential matching of interests with mentors).
2. Post-doctoral fellowships  / visiting researchers (short and longer term).
3. Seed money for research proposals – up to $5000.
4. Support for on-going research – up to $5000.
5. Workshops, colloquia and conferences – up to $5000.
6. Development of empirical databases – up to $5000.
7. Publications of relevant research products – up to $2500.

Eligible Applicants:

Scholars, faculty members, young scientists, post-doctoral and graduate students, subject experts, policy and legal advisors.

Potential Interacting Disciplines:

Law, sociology, history, economics, political science and international studies, planning, media studies, psychology, geography, environmental studies, philosophy, public policy and administration, public health and medicine. The Center aims to be a venue for systematic and cross-cultural learning and research, using various methodologies, qualitative, quantitative and mixed. 

Submission of Proposals:

Applicants must submit up to 5 pages specifying submission category (1-7 above).  For categories 3 and 4 please include: research description, goals, innovation, methodology and budget; For all other categories please include areas of focus, goals, expected outputs.  All applications must be accompanied by a curriculum vita of applicant(s) and two names of potential recommenders familiar with his/her abilities.

Deadline:

8 February 2021.

Please send submissions to Dr. Michal Ben Gal, Minerva Center Research Coordinator bmichal[at]geo[dot]haifa[dot]ac[dot]il. See also our website under “Funding Opportunities“.

Call for Papers

Palestinian Yearbook of International Law: The Palestine Yearbook of International Law (PYBIL) has opened an invitation for submissions for Volume XXIII. We are interested in particular in critical approaches to public international law, and welcome submissions in relation to Palestine. In addition, the PYBIL welcomes articles on critical legal studies, in particular, those emanating from Third World Approaches of International Law (TWAIL) as well as Critical Race Theory (CRT). With respect to CRT, the PYBIL is interested in articles that explore the relationship between power, race, and international law in theory and practice. Articles employing CRT would be welcome in all areas of international law. Please submit your article to: iol[dot]pyil[at]birzeit[dot]edu. For queries, please contact: Dr. Nimer Sultany, Editor-in-Chief: ns30[at]soas[dot]ac[dot]uk; Mr. Ata Hindi and Ms. Reem Al-Botmeh, Assistant Editors:iol[dot]pyil[at]birzeit[dot]edu. This peer-reviewed volume would include articles, case commentaries, and book reviews. For the full call for submissions, go here.

Webinars

Investor-State Arbitration: Current Status and Future Directions: SOAS, University of London is hosting the Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) for a webinar on Investor-State Arbitration: Current Status and Future Directions. The event is scheduled for 18 December Friday 17:00-19:00 GMT. It has been organized by students of the International Investment Law module, which is comprised of students from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. You can register for the event via eventbrite here. Please see the following for more information about the event. 

If you would like to post an announcement on Opinio Juris, please contact John Heieck at eventsandannouncements[at]gmail[dot]com with a one-paragraph description of your announcement along with hyperlinks to more information. Failure to provide said information may result in delayed posting of your announcement. Thank you!