Who Studies International Law? Explaining Cross-National Variation in Compulsory International Legal Education

European Journal of International Law

Marquette Law School Legal Studies Paper No. 19-03

28 Pages Posted: 26 Feb 2019 Last revised: 3 Aug 2020

See all articles by Ryan Scoville

Ryan Scoville

Marquette University - Law School

Mark S. Berlin

Marquette University

Date Written: February 19, 2019

Abstract

The compulsory study of international law is a universal component of legal education in some states, but extremely uncommon or nonexistent in others. This article uses global data and statistical methods to test a number of conceivable explanations for this puzzling feature of international society. In contrast to much of the empirical literature on state behavior in relation to international law, we find that functionalist and sociopolitical variables carry little explanatory power, and that historical variables — specifically, legal tradition and regional geography — instead account for the overwhelming majority of the global pattern. We explore potential explanations for these findings and discuss implications for scholars, legal educators, and policymakers.

Keywords: Comparative International Law, International Law, Legal Education, Empirical Legal Studies, Comparative Law

Suggested Citation

Scoville, Ryan M. and Berlin, Mark S., Who Studies International Law? Explaining Cross-National Variation in Compulsory International Legal Education (February 19, 2019). European Journal of International Law, Marquette Law School Legal Studies Paper No. 19-03, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3338040

Ryan M. Scoville (Contact Author)

Marquette University - Law School ( email )

Eckstein Hall
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201
United States
720-993-0197 (Phone)

Mark S. Berlin

Marquette University ( email )

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