This Week at ISN

23 - 27 January 2012 Hard on the heels of our examination of human rights, our focus this week is on international law. By looking at it from both a theoretical and practical perspective, we explore some of its more controversial areas, to include preventive war, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and more.

International Public Law in Action: The Application Phase

International Law: How Does It Actually Work in Practice?
23 Jan 2012 / ISN Special Feature

International law is a complex issue which will likely become more intricate as the scope of its application increases. We begin our examination of the subject by looking at the question of how international law works in practice. More International Law and the Use of Force: The Case of Iraq
24 Jan 2012 / ISN Feature

Today we turn our attention to a specific case study in international law, the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. What can this case teach us about the role of international law in determining whether states can justifiably go to war against other states? More The Responsibility to Protect
25 Jan 2012 / ISN Special Feature

Today we discuss the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and its role in conflict management and intervention. Our podcast guest David Lanz reflects on the Darfur conflict a test case for the emerging R2P norm and we feature videos from The Stanley Foundation's conference on R2P in the next decade. More International Law and the Challenges of Peace Missions
26 Jan 2012 / ISN Podcast

International peace missions have not only become more widespread, but also more complex, says Thorsten Benner, co-founder and associate director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin. Today's podcast discusses the challenges facing peace operations, including high expectations, and the trade-off between peace and justice. More International Law and the Problem of Failed States: A Case of Ambiguities
27 Jan 2012 / ISN Feature

The role that international law plays within an evolving international system has been a common refrain in our Editorial Plan. Today we turn our attention towards a perennial problem the relationship (or not) of international law to failed or failing states. More

Other Topics
Could Britain Have Tried Saif Gaddafi? On the Limits of Universal Jurisdiction
26 Jan 2012 / ISN Insights

Universal jurisdiction is necessary to ensure that there is no hiding place for the world's most brutal criminals. The arrest warrant for Saif Gaddafi was issued by the ICC, but had he fled to the UK, could he have been tried there? More

Are Transgenic Crops Safe? GM Agriculture in Africa

23 Jan 2012 / ISN Insights

The issues surrounding the adoption of GM crops and persistent questions about their safety show fears have overtaken solutions. Nevertheless, GM crops could help solve Africa's food, agriculture and human security challenges. More Peace Through 'Good Enough' Justice?
27 Jan 2012 / ISN Blog

As part of this week's editorial plan focus on international public law in action, Xenia de Graaf suggests that traditional justice systems can help build sustainable peace in post-conflict situations More The Era of "Debt Capitalism" Has Come to an End
25 Jan 2012 / ISN Blog

After 40 years of economic growth based on debt, the era of "debt capitalism" has come to an end, says Wolfgang Streeck. In advance of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ralph Stamm discusses a remarkable interview with the Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies in Cologne. More The Power and Politics of Transitional Justice
26 Jan 2012 / ISN Blog

One of the overarching ideas Kara Apland explores in this blog is the emerging trend of appealing to international criminal justice in (and in the wake of) conflict situations. The fact that "we no longer consider whether to pursue justice, but how and when" is part of the proliferation of the practice and perhaps more importantly the idea of transitional justice. More

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