Hauser Public International Law Colloquium: Contemporary Challenges Facing International Law

Professor Mattias Kumm
Professor Jose E. Alvarez

Fall 2026
Wednesdays, 4:45-6:45 p.m.
Vanderbilt Hall, Room 202

LAW-LW.13025.001
2 credits (with additional optional writing credit)

International law in its current form, established after 1945 and further developed after the end of the Cold War, is facing existential challenges. These are the results of, among other things, geopolitical and technological shifts, the dynamics of a new great power competition and democratic decline. In its present form international law appears to be, in the words of the UN General Secretary, "gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction."  Which challenges pose grave threats to fundamental principles of international law and how should they be addressed?  Which of the challenges provide opportunities to improve on and adapt international law to better address the challenges humanity faces and how should that be done? These and related questions will be discussed with reference to papers provided by the instructors and invited speakers. Some sessions will be reserved for further deepening and reflection of issues raised and are for registered students only.

The speaker sessions are open to the wider NYU community.  Subject to room constraints, all are welcome.  Papers are available approximately one week before each session.  Registered participants can access them from the course website.  Visitors interested in attending can request papers in advance from Theresa Allison.

September 2 

Monica Hakimi (Columbia Law School)

"How International Law Remakes the World"

September 16

Harlen Cohen (Fordham Law School)

"Security and Self-Determination"

September 23

Mattias Kumm (NYU Law)

"The struggle over a new Nomos of the Earth: Great Power Competition, Prerogative Power and International Law"

October 7

Robert Howse (NYU Law)

"More Honored in the Breach Than the Observance: A legal And Strategic Analysis of The Islamabad Memorandum of
Understanding Between the United States and Iran" (US-Iran 'Ceasefire' Agreement)

October 14

Jay Butler (Univ. of Virginia Law School)

"Global Tax for Repair"

October 21

Asli Bali (Yale Law School)

"Authoritarian International Law Reconsidered"

October 28

Oona Hathaway (Yale Law School)

November 4

Stratos Pahis (Brooklyn Law School)

"Does the WTO Have a Future?"

November 11

Nora Markard (Univ. of Münster, Germany: Visiting NYU)

"Making Human Rights Effective"

November 18

José E. Alvarez (NYU Law)

"The UN Collective Security System: Then and Now"