Does Digitalisation Change International Law Structurally?

Abstract

The paper provides a meta-analysis of the structural impact of digitalisation on international law. It synthesises the contributions of this special issue [German Law Journal Special Issue (vol. 24/3) on “The Impact of Digitalisation on International Law”], showing how their findings are interrelated and which cross-cutting trends we can observe. It uses an analytical framework designed to assess structural changes in international law by analysing the impact that digitalisation has on key reference points: actors, norms and values. From this assessment, it draws the conclusion that digitalisation is changing and will continue to change structural features of international law.