The ASIL's International Economic Law Interest Group (IEcLIG) has put out its Call for Papers for the 2010 Biennial Interest Group Conference. The theme: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC LAW IN A TIME OF CHANGE: REASSESSING LEGAL THEORY, DOCTRINE, METHODOLOGY AND POLICY PRESCRIPTIONS. The conference will be at the University of Minnesota Law School on November 18-20, 2010. Here are some details (the full document is here):
The start of the second decade of the twenty-first century is witnessing a confluence of events affecting international economic law that calls for re-evaluation. The international context has radically changed. Most analysts contend that we are shifting toward a multi-polar world in light of economic transformations in China, India, Brazil, and other developing and transitional countries, coupled with economic stagnation in the United States and Europe which are beset by a financial crisis and embroiled in foreign wars and security concerns. These developments have arguably complicated international economic governance, yet other factors–such as the current financial crisis–press consideration of new forms of international economic governance, such as the G-20. Global economic interdependence, exemplified by global production and supply chains, calls for sustained attention to international economic law and institutions.
II. Possible Topics for Papers and Panels
With this backdrop, the November conference will organize sessions that address the full range of international and transnational economic law. We encourage scholars to submit papers or panel proposals related to trade, investment, international financial regulation, transnational private law, and development law, as well as their intersection with social regulation such as over global warming, labor rights and consumer safety. This call for papers welcomes submissions that provide new analytic frameworks, reassess legal theory, evaluate developments in legal doctrine, engage in empirical analysis of the way international economic law operates, and provide guidance for policymakers, regulators and adjudicators in this time of international economic change.
The range of possible topics is wide—the list below is provided as a thought-starter of possible topics identified by the conference committee. We welcome however quality proposals on any international economic law topic.
* Methodological approaches for studying international economic law and their implications;
* Interpretive approaches to international economic law: theory vs. practice;
* Reform of international economic governance institutions, such as the WTO, IMF, World Bank, the G-8/G-20; international standards organizations;
* The interaction of institutions in a fragmented international economic law system;
* The role of hard and soft law in international economic governance, such as financial regulation;
* The interaction of private transnational economic governance regimes with public law;
* The interaction of international economic law and domestic law and politics;
* Theoretical and empirical studies on how international economic law institutions work;
* Theoretical and empirical studies on the handling of trade and investment disputes;
* Accountability and legitimacy of international economic governance;
* Climate change and its implications for international economic governance;
* Handling food and consumer safety risks in international trade;
* International economic law and the reassessment of development policies;
* New governance techniques in international economic law: their prospects and limits;
* Teaching international economic law: using new technologies;
* The future of international economic law after the financial crisis;
* The rise of China and a new international economic order?;
* Proliferating regional trade and investment agreements: complementing or supplanting multilateralism?; and
* The implications of the Doha Round for international economic law governanceIII. Proposal Submission, Selection and Paper Publication
We encourage proposals for papers from both young and established scholars and practitioners so that they may engage with each other. Paper proposals and all other program-related proposals must be submitted electronically by July 30 2010 to [email protected]. Proposals should include the author's name and full contact information, and an abstract of no more than 300 words.