A new book “How International Law Works in Times of Crisis” based on articles presented at the European Society of International Law Annual Conference held in Riga in 2016 and edited by the Riga Graduate School of Law (RGSL) Professors Ineta Ziemele and George Ulrich, was launched on 26 November at Riga Graduate School of Law.
In the book, Professor Ulrich and Professor Ziemele bring together an expert group of scholars to address the question of how international law confronts crises today in terms of legal thought, rule-making, and rule-application. The editors characterize international law and crisis discourse as one of a dialectical nature, and have grouped the chapters contained in the volume under four main themes: security, immunities, sustainable development, and philosophical perspectives. Each theme pertains to an area of international law which is subject to notable challenges and confrontations from developments in human society. The surprising general conclusion which emerges is that, by and large, the international legal system contains concepts, principles, rules, mechanisms, and formats for addressing the various developments that may prima facie seem to challenge these very same elements of the system. Their use, however, requires informed policy decisions.
Among the authors of the book are four Latvian academics and six RGSL faculty members – RGSL Professor, President of the Constitutional Court of Latvia Dr. Ineta Ziemele, RGSL Professor in International Law, Director of International Organizations and Human Rights department of the Republic of Latvia Dr. Ilze Rūse, RGSL Visiting Lecturer Dr. Irēna Ņesterova, Legal Advisor of the State Chancellery of the Republic of Latvia Dr. Ilze Dubava, as well as RGSL Visiting Docent Dr. Kushtrim Istrefi and RGSL Professor and Director of the European Masters Degree in Human Rights and Democratization in Venice, George Ulrich.
The book is published by Oxford University Press, the largest and most prestigious academic publisher in the world. This is their first publication in social sciences which has so many authors from Latvia, as well as where the editorial team comes from Latvia and RGSL leading by two RGSL professors – Ineta Ziemele and George Ulrich, language editor – RGSL former Lecturer Christopher Goddard and technical editor RGSL Lecturer Ligita Gjortlere.
The book is available on Amazon.com where the first edition is almost sold out, as well as on Bookdepository.
The 12th European Society of International Law (ESIL) Annual Conference took place in Riga in September 2016 with over 420 participants from 43 countries.
The book launch event was opened by RGSL Rector Dr. Pietro Sullo.