International Law-based Order and Australian Statecraft - Navigating Normative Storms

The norms, rules and principles of international law are attracting heightened contemporary public discourse. Amongst the issues being discussed are: when force may lawfully be used under the UN Charter; how force may be used under the laws of armed conflict; the roles of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court; legal aspects of climate change; legal aspects of defence and national security; and international trade. Straddling all these is the need for an understanding of the nature and identity of international law as the basis of any 'order 'in the international system. For Australia, several questions arise: is recourse to concepts such as the 'rules-based order,' rather than 'the international law-based order', an optimal conceptual pathway to effective agency as an actor in international law? How to account for power, authority, interests and values? Where are we headed?

AIIA ACT invites you to join us for a presentation by Dr Michael Smith AM with Dr Sarah McCosker from Lexbridge Lawyers as a discussant. Join us from 5:30pm for pre-presentation drinks and nibbles.

If you have any accessibility requirements or need to contact the ACT Branch, please email act.branch@internationalaffairs.org.au or call us on 0403 932 571.