International Law Education -1.0: How to Reconstruct? —In Conversation with Professor Erika de Wet
International law educators are facing monstrous challenges. Such challenges include voices of doubts about the very foundations of our discipline as well as increasing duties and pressures on teachers. But we need not confront them alone. This workshop brings together like-minded international law educators to build practical strategies for reconstructing our allegedly fragile discipline and identity.This workshop will provide the special opportunity to do so in conversation with Professor Erika de Wet, who is not only a renowned researcher, but an educator with rich experience of teaching at numerous institutions around the globe.
All are welcome to join, whether you are just starting to plan your first course or a seasoned professor. Together, let’s take on Godzilla!
日時:2024年9月7日(土)13時~17時
Seminar on “Peace and Security” will also be held between 10:00~12:00.
安全保障をテーマとするセミナーも、10時から12時に開催されます。
会場:百周年時計台記念館(京都大学)会議室IV
人数把握のため、8月末までにご登録いただけますと幸いです
Program
10:00~12:00 Seminar Peace and Security
Presenters:
Yohei OKADA (Associate Professor, Kobe University)
Nao SEOKA (Associate Professor, Kindai University)
13:00~17:00 Workshop International Law Education -1.0: How to Reconstruct?
Welcome
Roundtable 1: Challenges to international law and teaching
International law educators time-to-time receive seemingly innocuous questions from students that actually cut deep into foundational (and controversial) aspects of international law. How can/should they be answered? Roundtable 1 will take up three “Godzilla” questions and discuss the possible ways that instructors can tackle them.
- Student: “Is international law really law? Because I saw the news …”
- Student: “Does the international society have its own constitution? Is it written?“
- Exchange Student: “How does studying international law in Japan differ from studying it in other countries, like mine?"
Break
Roundtable 2: International law educators and challenges to teaching
International law educators need to navigate through stormy seas: they are pressured under expectations to meet high educational standards; they need to steer through the fast-moving waters of publishing; and they must sail through waves of paperwork in their affiliated institutions, academic societies and so on. How to save our boat from sinking? Roundtable 2 will delve into those challenges that arise from the troubled waters caused by “Godzilla” surrounding international law educators.
Closing
Miharu HIRANO - Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
平野実晴(立命館アジア太平洋大学)
Akinaga YOSHIDA - Waseda University, Japan
吉田曉永 (早稲田大学)
Ayaka DOYLE - Waseda University, Japan
ドイル彩佳(早稲田大学)
Special thanks to:
Shotaro HAMAMOTO - Kyoto University, Japan
濵本正太郎(京都大学)
This workshop is held under the auspieces of CoLabIL project.
Photo credit: Yamazaki, T. (Director). (2023). Godzilla minus one [Film]. Toho Co., Ltd.
Workshop summary
The workshop focused on the challenges faced by international law educators as they teach international law to an audience of students who have become increasingly disenchanted with international law. The discussion focused on the following three points: how to understand international law, constitutional features in international law, and national biases that arise in international law teaching materials. Professor Erika de Wet of the University of Graz, Austria, shared with the participants her extensive experience in international law education.
The workshop was eye-opening to say the least, as all participants reflected on their teaching and how they had tackled the above issues.
Though the currents news and international scene is often inundated with what looks to be examples of international law’s “un-law like” status, Professor de Wet showed us how we can remind students that our very lives are supported by well-functioning international law. Particularly memorable was her example of the leasing of pandas, which is itself an international treaty that is working quite well (to the enjoyment of millions who love going to see these adorable animals).