NOTICE: Monica Garcia-Salmones Rovira joins the Interest Group History of International Law as a convenor

Message from Monica Garcia-Salmones to the members of the IG

Dear Friends of the blog of ESIL - IG of the History of International Law,

I am a trained international lawyer who embraced the turn to history in international law. I wrote my LLD in international law at the Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights, (Helsinki University) with a thesis on the project of positivism in 20th century international law. After that, I held several post-doc positions, in projects such as ‘History of International Law: Between Empire and Religion’ and ‘The Concept of Natural Rights’, also based at The Erik Castrén Institute, where I was a Senior Researcher, and since 2016, an Associate Professor of International Law. Since 2023, I am Assistant Professor of Foundations of Law at the University of Maastricht, The Netherlands, and Co-Director of the Maastricht Centre for Law & Jurisprudence.

As an IG Convener, I would like to continue the great work done by the other Conveners so far. I am specially intrigued by the possibility of observing the past as a vast territory, which can be explored for thinking about the future. Creative ideas may arise from such observation. These ideas might or might not realise, but they can often contribute to enlighten our trouble times. I also would welcome the creation of opportunities to interact more with people focusing on doctrinal themes.

The other convenors welcome Monica and look forward to collaborating with her.

RECORDING: Hendrik SIMON in conversation with LAURI MÄLKSOO about "A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order" (OUP, 2024)

  

Source: OUP

Book discussion: A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order

The Interest Group on the History of International Law of the European Society of International Law (ESIL) organized an online discussion with Hendrik Simon (Frankfurt University / PRIF) and Lauri Mälksoo (University of Tartu) on Hendrik Simon’s recent book A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order (Oxford University Press, 2024).

The book challenges the conventional narrative that the nineteenth century was a period of unlimited warfare until the emergence of the League of Nations, the Kellogg-Briand Pact, and the UN Charter. Instead, Simon demonstrates how the concept of a “free right to go to war” (liberum ius ad bellum) was a construct of Imperial German legal realism, later universalized in international historiography. His work redefines our understanding of modern international order and the justifications of war. Hendrik Simon and Lauri Mälksoo will discuss the

book together, addressing current issues in the history of international law.

Speakers:

•       Hendrik Simon is Principal Investigator at the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC) at Frankfurt University and Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF). His book A Century of

Anarchy? has received the Jost Delbrück Prize 2024 and the Helmuth James von Moltke Prize 2025.

•       Lauri Mälksoo is Professor of International Law at the University of Tartu, member of the Institut de Droit International, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and the Estonian Academy of Sciences. He is co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Europe (2024) and author of the forthcoming Russia, the Soviet Union, and Imperial Continuity in International Law (OUP).

The recording can be consulted on the zoom portal of Uni Wien using password 7^7Mrpb8.

Monica Garcia-Salmones - Anastasia Hammerschmied - Sze Hong Lam (Ocean) - Florenz Volkaert

BOOK DISCUSSION: Hendrik SIMON in conversation with LAURI MÄLKSOO about "A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order" (OUP, 2024)

 

Source: OUP

Book discussion: A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order

The Interest Group on the History of International Law of the European Society of International Law (ESIL) warmly invites you to an online discussion with Hendrik Simon (Frankfurt University / PRIF) and Lauri Mälksoo (University of Tartu) on Hendrik Simon’s recent book A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order (Oxford University Press, 2024).

The book challenges the conventional narrative that the nineteenth century was a period of unlimited warfare until the emergence of the League of Nations, the Kellogg-Briand Pact, and the UN Charter. Instead, Simon demonstrates how the concept of a “free right to go to war” (liberum ius ad bellum) was a construct of Imperial German legal realism, later universalized in international historiography. His work redefines our understanding of modern international order and the justifications of war. Hendrik Simon and Lauri Mälksoo will discuss the

book together, addressing current issues in the history of international law.

Speakers:

•       Hendrik Simon is Principal Investigator at the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC) at Frankfurt University and Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF). His book A Century of

Anarchy? has received the Jost Delbrück Prize 2024 and the Helmuth James von Moltke Prize 2025.

•       Lauri Mälksoo is Professor of International Law at the University of Tartu, member of the Institut de Droit International, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and the Estonian Academy of Sciences. He is co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Europe (2024) and author of the forthcoming Russia, the Soviet Union, and Imperial Continuity in International Law (OUP).

Date: 22 October 2025

Time: 2:00 PM (CET)

Venue: Online via Zoom -- contact Anastasia Hammerschmied to register at anastasia.hammerschmied@univie.ac.at.

We look forward to your participation!

Jaanika Erne - Anastasia Hammerschmied - Sze Hong Lam (Ocean) - Florenz Volkaert

EVENT: "The Atrocity Paradox: From Limited to Extreme Violence in Empires" (UCLouvain, Louvain Lab for Law, History & Society, 15 October 2025)

 

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: "Empires, Colonialism and the History of International Law - An Encounter with Prof. Lauren Benton" (UCLouvain, 15 October 2025, DEADLINE: 30 September 2025)

Call for Papers – Empires, Colonialism and the History of International Law - An Encounter with Prof. Lauren Benton

On the occasion of Prof. Lauren Benton’s (Yale University) visit and conference to the Louvain Lab for Law, History and Society (LHS) at UCLouvain on 15 October 2025, a doctoral research seminar will be held, open to all PhD candidates in law, history, and legal history in Belgium. This workshop will take the form of an encounter between Prof. Benton and early-career researchers, giving participants the opportunity to discuss their doctoral research on one of the following themes: 

• History of law and justice, across all periods
• History of empires
• Global and comparative history
• Colonial history and the history of colonial law
• History of violence
• History of international law

Each participant is invited to give a 10-minute presentation in English on their doctoral research, followed by a discussion with Prof. Benton.

To take part in this workshop, please send your paper proposal (350-word abstract + CV) to quentin.verreycken@uclouvain.be no later than 30 September 2025.

Lauren Benton is Barton M. Biggs Professor of History and Professor of Law at Yale University. Her research focuses primarily on the global history of empires and the history of international law. Her most recent book is They Called It Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence (Princeton University Press, 2024).

Date : 15 octobre 2025, 14-17h

Lieu : UCLouvain Salle Dabin, Bât. Thomas More Place Montesquieu 2. 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve

Atelier doctoral

Appel à communications - Empires, Colonialism and the History of International Law - An Encounter with Prof. Lauren Benton

À l’occasion de la venue et conférence de la Pr. Lauren Benton (Université Yale) au Louvain Lab for Law, History and Society (LHS) à l’UCLouvain le 15 octobre 2025, est organisé un atelier doctoral ouvert à tous les doctorants et doctorantes en droit, histoire et histoire du droit de Belgique. Cet atelier prend la forme d’une rencontre entre Lauren Benton et les jeunes chercheurs et chercheuses, afin qu’ils et elles puissent dialoguer autour de leurs recherches doctorales pouvant porter sur l’une des thématiques suivantes : 

• L’histoire du droit et de la justice, toutes périodes confondues
• L’histoire des empires
• L’histoire globale et comparée
• L’histoire coloniale et l’histoire du droit colonial
• L’histoire de la violence
• L’histoire du droit international

Chaque doctorant·e est invité·e à faire une présentation de 10 minutes en anglais autour de ses recherches doctorales et qui sera suivie d’un échange avec Lauren Benton.

Pour participer à cette rencontre, veuillez nous envoyer votre proposition de communication (résumé de 350 mots + CV) à l’adresse quentin.verreycken@uclouvain.be pour le 30 septembre au plus tard.

Lauren Benton est Barton M. Biggs Professor of History and Professor of Law à l’Université Yale. Ses travaux portent principalement sur l’histoire globale des empires et l’histoire du droit international. Son dernier livre est intitulé They Called It Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence (Princeton University Press, 2024).

Date : 15 octobre 2025, 14-17h

Lieu : UCLouvain Salle Dabin, Bât. Thomas More Place Montesquieu 2. 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve

More info with UCLouvain's Lab for Law, History and Society.

BOOK LAUNCH EVENT: Hendrik SIMON & Lauri MÄLKSOO in conversation about "A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order" (OUP, 2024), 22 October 2025

 

Source: OUP

Book discussion: A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order

The Interest Group on the History of International Law of the European Society of International Law (ESIL) warmly invites you to an online discussion with Hendrik Simon (Frankfurt University / PRIF) and Lauri Mälksoo (University of Tartu) on Hendrik Simon’s recent book A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order (Oxford University Press, 2024).

The book challenges the conventional narrative that the nineteenth century was a period of unlimited warfare until the emergence of the League of Nations, the Kellogg-Briand Pact, and the UN Charter. Instead, Simon demonstrates how the concept of a “free right to go to war” (liberum ius ad bellum) was a construct of Imperial German legal realism, later universalized in international historiography. His work redefines our understanding of modern international order and the justifications of war. Hendrik Simon and Lauri Mälksoo will discuss the

book together, addressing current issues in the history of international law.

Speakers:

•       Hendrik Simon is Principal Investigator at the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC) at Frankfurt University and Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF). His book A Century of

Anarchy? has received the Jost Delbrück Prize 2024 and the Helmuth James von Moltke Prize 2025.

•       Lauri Mälksoo is Professor of International Law at the University of Tartu, member of the Institut de Droit International, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and the Estonian Academy of Sciences. He is co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Europe (2024) and author of the forthcoming Russia, the Soviet Union, and Imperial Continuity in International Law (OUP).

Date: 22 October 2025

Time: 2:00 PM (CET)

Venue: Online via Zoom -- contact Anastasia Hammerschmied to register at anastasia.hammerschmied@univie.ac.at.

We look forward to your participation!

Jaanika Erne - Anastasia Hammerschmied - Sze Hong Lam (Ocean) - Florenz Volkaert

ONLINE BOOK DISCUSSION: Hendrik SIMON & Lauri MÄLKSOO in conversation about "A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order" (OUP, 2024), 22 October 2025

Source: OUP

Book discussion: A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order

The Interest Group on the History of International Law of the European Society of International Law (ESIL) warmly invites you to an online discussion with Hendrik Simon (Frankfurt University / PRIF) and Lauri Mälksoo (University of Tartu) on Hendrik Simon’s recent book A Century of Anarchy? War, Normativity, and the Birth of Modern International Order (Oxford University Press, 2024).

The book challenges the conventional narrative that the nineteenth century was a period of unlimited warfare until the emergence of the League of Nations, the Kellogg-Briand Pact, and the UN Charter. Instead, Simon demonstrates how the concept of a “free right to go to war” (liberum ius ad bellum) was a construct of Imperial German legal realism, later universalized in international historiography. His work redefines our understanding of modern international order and the justifications of war. Hendrik Simon and Lauri Mälksoo will discuss the
book together, addressing current issues in the history of international law.

Speakers:
•       Hendrik Simon is Principal Investigator at the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC) at Frankfurt University and Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF). His book A Century of
Anarchy? has received the Jost Delbrück Prize 2024 and the Helmuth James von Moltke Prize 2025.
•       Lauri Mälksoo is Professor of International Law at the University of Tartu, member of the Institut de Droit International, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and the Estonian Academy of Sciences. He is co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of International Law in Europe (2024) and author of the forthcoming Russia, the Soviet Union, and Imperial Continuity in International Law (OUP).

Date: 22 October 2025
Time: 2:00 PM (CET)
Venue: Online via Zoom
We look forward to your participation!

Jaanika Erne - Anastasia Hammerschmied - Sze Hong Lam (Ocean) - Florenz Volkaert