30th Annual Conference of the
Australian and New Zealand
Society of International Law

Victoria University of Wellington - Te Herenga Waka,
Wellington, New Zealand
29 June - 1 July 2023

Is International Law Resilient?

Call for papers and panel proposals: Deadline 17 February 2023 (deadline extended)

Australia and New Zealand are both longstanding supporters of the international rules-based order, but is this order sufficiently resilient to survive both acute and systemic challenges? Since the start of the 2020s, the international order has been challenged by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, geopolitical tension between China and the West, the increasingly visible effects of climate change, the ongoing COVID pandemic, the economic disruptions caused by supply chains in crisis, and the challenges posed by cyberthreats and new technologies, to name just a few.

Is international law, and are international institutions, resilient in the face of these threats? Can international law contribute to supporting the resilience of ecosystems and communities in the face of inexorable environmental degradation? Is international law equipped with the tools to 'save succeeding generations from the scourge of war' as the UN Charter's preamble so solemnly proclaims? Are key UN institutions such as the Security Council and the International Court of Justice still capable of contributing to peace and security and the peaceful resolution of disputes? How are the UN and other international organisations developing resilience in response to changing geopolitical norms? Is resilience supported through domestic processes of incorporation and interpretation of international law? Does resilience require the development of new international rules in areas where none existed previously? Or, does resilience resist change and prevent the creation of flexible and innovative solutions? Where does a resilient international law sit on the continuum between continuity and change? Finally, how can we remain resilient as teachers, students and practitioners of international law?

The Organising Committee for the 30th Annual Conference invites paper submissions and panel proposals on any area of public and private international law relevant to the Conference theme. In the tradition of ANZSIL Conferences, the Conference Organising Committee also invites and welcomes proposals on international law topics not connected to the Conference theme and the submission of panel proposals from ANZSIL interest groups.

The Organising Committee expressly welcomes panel or paper proposals on transdisciplinary projects that push the boundaries of international law scholarship or that adopt innovative formats. ANZSIL aims to promote diversity in the international law community and strongly encourages submissions from Māori, Indigenous Australians and from individuals and groups traditionally underrepresented in this forum.

Submission of Paper Proposals

Those proposing papers for presentation at the Conference should submit a single Word document comprising:

• An abstract of no more than 250 words (papers with abstracts in excess of 250 words will not be considered); and
• A biographical note of no more than 200 words (for inclusion in the electronic Conference program) and a one-page curriculum vitae. 

Please submit your paper proposal using the Call for Papers application form below.

Submission of Panel Proposals

Submissions for well-constructed panels relevant to the conference theme are strongly encouraged. Those proposing panels for presentation at the Conference should submit:

• A synopsis of no more than 250 words, explaining the rationale and theme of the panel; and
• Three or four paper proposals, including in each case the information requested above (250-word abstract, 200-word biographical note and one-page curriculum vitae).
  

The information requested above should be provided in a single Word document entitled “ANZSIL Conference 2023 Panel Proposal: [Your Name] [Title of Proposed Panel]”.

Please submit your panel proposal using the Call for Papers application link below.

The Organising Committee welcomes the proposal of panels with innovative formats appropriate for an online as well as in-person audience.

Process and Dates

The closing date for proposals is 17 February 2023 (deadline extended). The Organising Committee will endeavour to inform applicants of the outcome of their proposals by middle of March 2023. All presenters will be required to register for the Conference by early May to be included in the final Conference program. Further information about the Conference, including program and registration details, will be made available on the ANZSIL website at anzsil.org.au/events in due course.