Teaching International Law in the 21th Century – Opening up the Hidden Room in the Palace of International Law

Abstract

The great challenges of our time – such as climate change/environmental protection, the preservation of basic human rights, the speedy response to regional/civil war conflicts – require powerful and effective answers from international law. Also at the national level, the international perspective strongly gained in importance. International law and national law are intertwined closer than ever before. This prompts the question about the status of international law teaching. The picture is vague. Curricula at law faculties and law schools have still to adapt to this new and further evolving situation. In this context, also the role of the international law teachers needs further scrutiny. In academia and in law practice they are looked at from very different angles and depending on the vantage point, they are seen as priest, as marginalized utopians, as “tin soldiers” or as technician that can make a difference.

In the following, it will be shown that international lawyers can give important contributions to the most pivotal challenges as mentioned above. This has to happen, however, on basis of an international dialogue, also of an interdisciplinary nature. To make this endeavor succeed, the society (both nationally and internationally) has to provide for the basic requisites such as academic freedom, open discourse and free competition of ideas in a secure institutional setting.

Keywords: International Law; Teaching; New Public Management; Lean Management; Humboldtian University; University Reform; European University Space

JEL Classification: K33; I23; H44; H83; L14; L16; L23