11 March 2020 - Coronavirus: update
All public events at the WZB have to be cancelled with immediate effect. This measure will be effective until 20 July 2020. It is based on today's decision by the Governing Mayor of Berlin to introduce a range of urgent measures for Berlin's research institutions to counter the further spread of the Corona-virus.

Workshop and Discussion of the book by Alec D. Walen in the presence of the author

Die Konferenz nimmt die ko-konstitutive Beziehung von Wissen und Recht in den Blick. Recht bedarf umfassender Wissensbestände, um ein- und umgesetzt zu werden. Wissen, das in der modernen Gesellschaft zunehmend als "Ressource" verstanden wird, bedarf immer schon, und mit Zunahme institutioneller Komplexitäten immer mehr, der rechtlichen Flankierung, Absicherung und Regelung.

Comment by Irina Mützelburg (CMB)

Drawing boundaries is one of the main functions of modern law. Legal boundaries deeply shape modern societies. They define inclusion and exclusion and differentiate legal status, by that determining who belongs to a society or group – and who does not. This fundamental function of law to define belonging is at the heart of a lecture series organized by the Center for Global Constitutionalism (WZB) together with the Centre Marc Bloch.

The Scholars Workshop will discuss papers on global constitutionalism/global governance/human rights. One of the goals of the Workshop is to advance global constitutionalism as an interdisciplinary field. Another is to promote the creation of networks of scholars working in similar fields. Thus, the Center invited submissions from a broad range of disciplines including International Law, Political Science, International Relations, Comparative Constitutional Law, Comparative Politics, Political Theory and Philosophy.

"The Internationalists. How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World" claims that the prohibition of the use of force brought about a radical change in the nature of international law — the Kellogg-Briand Pact, its apparent failure to stop the Second World War and then anchoring of the prohibition of the use of force in the United Nations Charter as a kind of major constitutional moment of the international community. 

We are pleased to be able to welcome Professor Robert Alexy (University of Kiel) as guest speaker to this year's Berlin Colloquium on Global and Comparative Public Law.

This event is part of this semester’s Berlin Colloquium on Global and Comparative Public Law, which is organized by Mattias Kumm.

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) witnessed some of the most visible transitions from authoritarian to democratic rule as part of the Third Wave of democratization. The fact that most of the former Communist states of CEE later joined the European Union (EU) created the expectation that, notwithstanding the difficulties faced by other post-authoritarian states, the constitutional democracies of CEE were fully consolidated. 

The European Junior Faculty Forum for Public Law and Jurisprudence intends to address public law scholarship from a theoretically informed doctrinal, interdisciplinary or comparative perspective, contribute to the research of junior scholars, and create an intellectual community of European public law scholars. The forum brings together a selected group of early career scholars for what promises to be an intellectually rewarding academic exchange. The papers, selected based upon blind peer-review, will be commented on by two senior scholars.

Europa ist tief verunsichert: Die massive Ablehnung der Europäischen Union in großen Teilen der Wählerschaft Frankreichs und anderen europäischen Ländern wirft die elementare Frage nach der politischen Zugehörigkeit der Europäer auf. Die Zugehörigkeit zu einer politischen Gemeinschaft wird aber maßgeblich bestimmt durch die Staatsbürgerschaft, eine zentrale Institution der europäischen Rechtsgeschichte. Diese definierte Ein- und Ausschluss, Muster nationaler Identität und Migrationspolitik.

This two-day workshop will explore the history of the rights to health, well-being and subsistence from the eighteenth century to today from the perspective of governmentality and biopolitics.

Due to capacity constraints, we cannot accept further registrations.

This workshop brings together distinguished political theorists, legal scholars and political scientists to discussions on how best to understand public reason – understood in a broad and inclusive way - in relation to courts, and in discussion about what practical impact such ideals may have in the context of adjudication

More than ever before, questions of movement, displacement and belonging, equality and inequality, borders and otherness have become hot-button issues worldwide. Public law--whether domestic, European or international--structures practices of inclusion and exclusion, borders and boundaries, and line-drawing in a variety of ways. The analysis and assessment of how that happens, for what purposes and with what effects, is the focus of this conference.

More information: www.icons2016.berlin

Die Tagung von Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Universität Konstanz und des WZB Center for Global Constitutionalism ist den Problemen, Fragestellungen und Perspektiven der Geschichte der Verfassungsgerichtsbarkeit in der Bundesrepublik gewidmet. Die Rechtsprechung des Bundesverfassungsgerichts ist eine bedeutende Quelle der Rechts- und Verfassungsgeschichte, aber auch der politischen sowie der Sozial- und Ideengeschichte der Bundesrepublik.

The workshop is a cooperation between the WZB, Center for Global Constitutionalism, and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. 

The relationship between "Global Constitutionalism” and Critical Theory is the subject of a workshop organized  by Mattias Kumm, Rainer Forst and Seyla Benhabib on December 11th, 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. in Berlin, Heilig-Geist-Kapelle (Spandauer Str. 1). Has the globalization of public law, that claims to be guided by basic commitments to human rights, democracy and the rule of law, helped to realize the emancipatory potential of the constitutionalist tradition? Or has constitutionalist rhetoric merely legitimated new or helped to cover up old forms of repression?

Jan-Werner Müller is Professor of Politics at the Department of Politics, Princeton University. His research interests include the history of modern political thought, liberalism and its critics, constitutionalism, religion and politics, and the normative dimensions of European integration.

Neil Walker holds the Regius Chair of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the University of Edinburgh. His main area of expertise is constitutional theory. He has published extensively on the constitutional dimension of legal order at sub-state, state, supranational and international levels. He has also published at length on the relationship between security, legal order and political community.

Folke Schuppert ist emeritierter Professor des Rule of Law Centers, und Teilprojektleiter des Sonderforschungsbereichs (SFB) 700 "Governance in Räumen begrenzter Staatlichkeit" der FU Berlin.

Susan Rose-Ackerman is the Henry R. Luce Professor of Jurisprudence (Law and Political Science) with joint appointments between Yale Law School and the Yale Department of Political Science. She has taught and written widely on corruption, law and development, administrative law, law and regulatory policy, the nonprofit sector, and federalism.

J. Christopher McCrudden, a William W. Cook Global Law Professor at Michigan Law, is a professor of human rights and equality law at Queens University Belfast, and a practicing barrister-at-law with Blackstone Chambers. Specializing in human rights, he concentrates on issues of equality and discrimination as well as the relationship between international and comparative human rights law.

Christoph Möllers is Professor of Public Law and Jurisprudence at the Faculty of Law, Humboldt-University Berlin. He was a Fellow at NYU School of Law and at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. He is a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. Since January 2011 he has acted as a judge at the Superior Administrative Court in Berlin.

Lea Ypi is Associate Professor in Political Theory in the Government Department, London School of Economics, and Adjunct Associate Professor in Philosophy at the Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University.

This discussion takes place within the colloquium series "Rethinking Law in a Global Context" that this summer semester focuses on "Law‘s Conception of Politics and Political Conceptions of Law".

Dr. Hagen Schulz-Forberg, visiting scholar from Aarhus University, Denmark, is co-organizing with Professor Mattias Kumm, managing head of the WZB Rule of Law Center, the author's workshop
"Zero Hours": Conceptual Insecurities and New Beginnings from Global Perspectives since the Interwar Period".

It takes place on Thursday, January 15 and Friday, January 16, 2015.

The workshops analyzes global historical perspectives on the intellectual, legal, political and economic ruptures in connection with the End of World War II.

The workshop will offer a unique opportunity to discuss the first drafts of the chapters for the volume on the Enforcement of EU Law against Member States, a book to be edited by András Jakab and Dimitry Kochenov, to which all of the panelists have agreed to contribute. The questions addressed are of wider interest and lend themselves to be discussed in a wider public forum.

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Violence, Surveillance, Secrecy: Constitutionalism and the 'Deep State'”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University).

Moshe Halbertal is Gruss Professor of Law at New York University School of Law and Professor, at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Violence, Surveillance, Secrecy: Constitutionalism and the 'Deep State'”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University).

Diese Veranstaltung ist Teil der Kolloquiums-Serie “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, die sich in diesem Sommersemester dem Thema “Violence, Surveillance, Secrecy: Constitutionalism and the 'Deep State'” widmet. Das Kolloquium wird vom WZB Rule of Law Center gesponsert und von Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB und New York University) organisiert.

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Violence, Surveillance, Secrecy: Constitutionalism and the 'Deep State'”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University).

In recent years there has been a vigorous debate among political philosophers about the origin and limits of the territorial rights of states. Three major views have emerged: a Kantian view; a Lockean view; and a nationalist view. These views differ substantially, but what they have in common is that they theorize territorial rights essentially one state at a time, without taking anything like a global standpoint. For that reason, topics such as immigration and global responsibilities connected to territoriality only appear as afterthoughts in these accounts.

Die Konferenz zum Thema "Cosmpolitan Conditions for Legitimate Sovereignty" hat als Ausgangspunkt die These, dass Internationales Recht und Internationale Politik die Aufgabe haben, die externen Bedingungen zu gewährleisten, unter denen Behauptungen staatlicher Souveränität legitim sein können. Welche Bedingungen aber sind das genau?

Professor Yu Keping is the Director of the Center for Chinese Government Innovations at Beijing University, China. He is a distinguished scholar having produced many books including the widely noted Democracy Is a Good Thing. In addition to his academic work, he has also acted as an advisor on political reforms to the Chinese government.

Professor Yu is also the New World Senior Fellow in the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation in the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Private Ordering and Public Authority”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ingolf Pernice (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin).

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Private Ordering and Public Authority”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ingolf Pernice (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin).

Professor Moritz Renner is the Lichtenberg-Professor for Transnational Economic Law and Theory of Economic Law at the University of Bremen.

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Private Ordering and Public Authority”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ingolf Pernice (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin).

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Private Ordering and Public Authority”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ingolf Pernice (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin).

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Private Ordering and Public Authority”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ingolf Pernice (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin).

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Private Ordering and Public Authority”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ingolf Pernice (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin).

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Private Ordering and Public Authority”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York University) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ingolf Pernice (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin).

Gonçalo de Almeida Ribeiro is Gulbenkian Professor at the Católica Global School of Law.

This event is part of the colloquium series “Rethinking Law in a Global Context”, which this summer semester focuses on “Private Ordering and public Authority”, sponsored by the WZB Rule of Law Center and convened by Prof. Dr. Mattias Kumm (WZB and New York Univeristy) in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ingolf Pernice (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin).

Colloquium "Rethinking Law in a Global Context: Rethinking the National/International Divide", Summer Semester 2012

Colloquium "Rethinking Law in a Global Context: Rethinking the National/International Divide", Summer Semester 2012

Colloquium "Rethinking Law in a Global Context: Rethinking the National/International Divide", Summer Semester 2012

Colloquium "Rethinking Law in a Global Context: Rethinking the National/International Divide", Summer Semester 2012

Colloquium "Rethinking Law in a Global Context: Rethinking the National/International Divide", Summer Semester 2012

Joseph H. H. Weiler is University Professor at New York University School of Law, Joseph Straus Professor of Law, European Union Jean Monnet Chaired Professor. He is Director of the following institutions: Straus Institute for the Advanced Study of Law & Justice, Tikvah Center for Law & Jewish Civilization, Jean Monnet Center for International and Regional Economic Law and Justice and of the J.S.D. Program.

Titel der Präsentation:

Achtung der Systemdiversität und Mindesthomogenisierung - Religionsrecht in der jüngeren Rechtsprechung des EGMR

How do courts reach decisions in hybrid legal contexts? Which rules and procedures are functional to manage legal plurality? And to which extent does legitimate conflict resolution rely on valid statutory rules? These questions touch upon core problems that obstruct rule of law projects all over the world.

International courts and tribunals (ICTs) are rapidly increasing in influence and number. They regulate sectors that range from international criminal law to trade, from human rights to the law of the sea, with regional or global jurisdiction. And their findings are increasingly compulsory for states. This proliferation of international courts, coupled with their complex effects, contribute to what many perceive as the legalization and judicialization of international relations.

Gäste:

Dr. Thomas Fitschen
Auswärtiges Amt, Leiter Referat für konzeptionelle Fragen der Politik der Vereinten Nationen

Alejandro Rodiles
Rechtsberater bei der ständigen Vertretung Mexikos bei den Vereinten Nationen von 2009-2011
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am Lehrstuhl für Öffentliches Recht, Völker- und Europarecht an der Humboldt Universität

Thursday, March 17th, 2011, at the WZB, Conference Room A 310

Social Science Research Center Berlin
(Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, WZB)

Gerichte gehören institutionell zu den großen Globalisierungsgewinnern. Seit 1990 gibt es kaum eine neue Verfassung ohne ein starkes Verfassungsgericht. Verfassungsgerichte spielen auch in der Praxis eine zunehmend gewichtige Rolle im politischen System liberaler Demokratien. Gerichte wie der Europäische Menschenrechtsgerichtshof in Straßburg oder der Europäische Gerichtshof in Luxemburg sind seit Jahrzehnten einflussreiche Akteure. Vereinfachend lässt sich von einer Verrechtlichung der Politik und einer Politisierung des Rechts sprechen. Was erklärt diese Entwicklung?

The conference seeks to rethink basic issues of constitutional theory in light of contemporary challenges, that have been sidelined and obscured by the generally statist focus of traditional constitutional theory. Among the questions that will be examined are: Can a constituent power, which is exclusively national, be the ground for the constitutions claim to legitimate authority? How can constitutional theory contribute to a normative understanding of borders? How is the relationship between national and international law to be conceived within constitutional theory?