Weekend Roundup: February 11-17, 2019

Carlos Arturo Villagrán Sandoval kicked off the week with an illuminating discussion of the Comisión Internacional contra la Impunidad en Guatemalaor or CICIG affair and the consequences thereof on the new monist approach to international law in the Guatemalan domestic legal system.

In response to a new report on State Responsibility for Modern Slavery at the UN, Kristen discussed the duty of states to prevent modern-day slavery by exercising due diligence through a variety of measures in order to avoid state responsibility.

Ralph Janik examined the relevant legal aspects of the notion of intervention by invitation in Venezuela, concluding his post with a cliffhanger. Alonso Illueca addressed a different dimension of the topic by focusing on the often-overlooked humanitarian crisis plaguing Venezuela and the international laws designed to ameliorate its effects.

Kevin pulled no punches in his comments on Israel’s warm and cozy relationships with Myanmar and other historically repugnant regimes, such as South Africa under apartheid. Kevin then provided an interesting contrast between the views of the US and Australia concerning the American and South Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, pointing out (perhaps unsurprisingly) greater, critical self-reflection on the part of Australia. Kevin wrapped up the week with a rallying call to American progressives (like Representatives Omar, Tlaib, and Ocasio-Cortez) to exhibit greater political courage in the face of the historical hatred, hypocrisy, and atrocities personified by presidential nominees such as Elliott Abrams.

Many thanks to our guest contributors and have a great weekend!