Within societies, on a national level, self-defence may be used as a defence against the use of force in order to prevent crime against oneself, a fellow human being or even property. Between societies on the international level, self-defence was traditionally linked to the concept of armed attack. However, in today’s world, new forms of aggression, the concept of collective security, and an increasing interaction between national and international law necessitate a reassessment of the concept of self-defence. The first session of the Hague Colloquium on the Fundamental Principles of Law, on the topic of self-defence and honouring Shabtai Rosenne, the first Laureate of the Hague Prize for Intenational Law, brought together experts from both academic and professional circles to debate the notion of self-defence in the world of today. Both the Colloquium and this subsequent publication make a valuable contribution to the development of the law by recognising the sources of the principle of self-defence, and the theories underlying it, by following its path of evolution and by reassessing its current status. The essays are accompanied by a remarkably full and useful bibliography and by documentary materials, many of which are difficult to obtain elsewhere.This book will contribute constructively to stimulating scholarship and research in the field of self-defence; it provides food for thought, and will hopefully inspire more colloquia and publications on the topic.Arthur Eyffinger is Director of JUDICAP, a research centre and publishing house in the field of internationalism. Alan Stephens is Director of Research at the Clemens Nathan Research Centre. Sam Muller is Director of the Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law (HiiL).

What does ‘constitutionalism’ mean in our age of globalisation? In which contexts does the discourse of constitutionalism occur? What factors contribute to the creation of a ‘culture’ of constitutionalism at the nation-state level? And can one talk about constitutionalism beyond the state, for example at the European and international levels?These are some of the questions that formed the basis for discussion at the Fifth ‘From Peace to Justice’ Conference of the Hague Academic Coalition in May 2008. With the concepts of power and governance becoming more diverse and multi-faceted, the conference considered constitutionalism at the national, European and international levels, exploring from a variety of viewpoints the changing meaning of constitutionalism in today’s globalised world.Specific to this book:•Each chapter includes a summary of its content, giving the reader an overview of the subject matter and the questions being discussed•The summaries are translated into French, making it more accessible to French speakers•Includes an extended bibliography focusing on constitutionalism; prepared by the Peace Palace Library, it provides interested readers with a useful source for further research

One of the main tasks of highest courts is the maintenance of legal coherency within the national legal system. Highest courts should also observe national legislation to be in conformity with the constitution and international treaties.In the internationalising world of today, societies and legal systems increasingly interact. This has consequences for highest national courts which also increasingly interact with each other. The authors in this book investigate the implications of these phenomena for theory and practice. As leading scholars and distinguished judges they offer a unique and unprecedented perspective on the issue of highest courts and globalisation.This book is therefore highly recommended to judges and practitioners in national and international courts, academics, parliamentarians and civil servants of national ministries of justice and the interior.​Law of the Future Conferences‘Law of the Future’ is the top level international and multidisciplinary conference series initiated by The Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law (HiiL). These conferences explore how law is changing and should change under the pressure of globalisation and internationalisation, and how the roles of international actors and stakeholders will or must change as a consequence. The ‘Law of the Future’ conference series bridges practice and academia. The Changing Role of Highest Courts in an Internationalising World was the theme of the October 2008 Law of the Future Conference, which was held in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Within societies, on a national level, self-defence may be used as a defence against the use of force in order to prevent crime against oneself, a fellow human being or even property. Between societies on the international level, self-defence was traditionally linked to the concept of armed attack. However, in today’s world, new forms of aggression, the concept of collective security, and an increasing interaction between national and international law necessitate a reassessment of the concept of self-defence. The first session of the Hague Colloquium on the Fundamental Principles of Law, on the topic of self-defence and honouring Shabtai Rosenne, the first Laureate of the Hague Prize for Intenational Law, brought together experts from both academic and professional circles to debate the notion of self-defence in the world of today. Both the Colloquium and this subsequent publication make a valuable contribution to the development of the law by recognising the sources of the principle of self-defence, and the theories underlying it, by following its path of evolution and by reassessing its current status. The essays are accompanied by a remarkably full and useful bibliography and by documentary materials, many of which are difficult to obtain elsewhere.This book will contribute constructively to stimulating scholarship and research in the field of self-defence; it provides food for thought, and will hopefully inspire more colloquia and publications on the topic.Arthur Eyffinger is Director of JUDICAP, a research centre and publishing house in the field of internationalism. Alan Stephens is Director of Research at the Clemens Nathan Research Centre. Sam Muller is Director of the Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law (HiiL).

What does ‘constitutionalism’ mean in our age of globalisation? In which contexts does the discourse of constitutionalism occur? What factors contribute to the creation of a ‘culture’ of constitutionalism at the nation-state level? And can one talk about constitutionalism beyond the state, for example at the European and international levels?These are some of the questions that formed the basis for discussion at the Fifth ‘From Peace to Justice’ Conference of the Hague Academic Coalition in May 2008. With the concepts of power and governance becoming more diverse and multi-faceted, the conference considered constitutionalism at the national, European and international levels, exploring from a variety of viewpoints the changing meaning of constitutionalism in today’s globalised world.Specific to this book:•Each chapter includes a summary of its content, giving the reader an overview of the subject matter and the questions being discussed•The summaries are translated into French, making it more accessible to French speakers•Includes an extended bibliography focusing on constitutionalism; prepared by the Peace Palace Library, it provides interested readers with a useful source for further research

One of the main tasks of highest courts is the maintenance of legal coherency within the national legal system. Highest courts should also observe national legislation to be in conformity with the constitution and international treaties.In the internationalising world of today, societies and legal systems increasingly interact. This has consequences for highest national courts which also increasingly interact with each other. The authors in this book investigate the implications of these phenomena for theory and practice. As leading scholars and distinguished judges they offer a unique and unprecedented perspective on the issue of highest courts and globalisation.This book is therefore highly recommended to judges and practitioners in national and international courts, academics, parliamentarians and civil servants of national ministries of justice and the interior.​Law of the Future Conferences‘Law of the Future’ is the top level international and multidisciplinary conference series initiated by The Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law (HiiL). These conferences explore how law is changing and should change under the pressure of globalisation and internationalisation, and how the roles of international actors and stakeholders will or must change as a consequence. The ‘Law of the Future’ conference series bridges practice and academia. The Changing Role of Highest Courts in an Internationalising World was the theme of the October 2008 Law of the Future Conference, which was held in The Hague, The Netherlands.