International Law and the Anthropocene. This project aims to examine how international law deals with environmental systems in the Anthropocene: the current geological epoch defined by human interference with Earth's biophysical systems. It will assess whether and how international law takes a systemic approach in controlling human impacts upon key environmental spheres (in particular the atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere). The project also aims to assess whether environmental re ....International Law and the Anthropocene. This project aims to examine how international law deals with environmental systems in the Anthropocene: the current geological epoch defined by human interference with Earth's biophysical systems. It will assess whether and how international law takes a systemic approach in controlling human impacts upon key environmental spheres (in particular the atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere). The project also aims to assess whether environmental regimes are capable of further development to ensure the continued existence of a safe operating space for humanity.Read moreRead less
International Trade Law and International Investment Law: Recognising Complexity, Developing Coherence. International trade and investment treaties contain overlapping provisions that have been subject to divergent interpretations by tribunals settling associated disputes. Proliferation of such treaties has created conflicting obligations, significant uncertainty for states and businesses, and an increasing potential for government liability. Through a comparative study of targeted countries, le ....International Trade Law and International Investment Law: Recognising Complexity, Developing Coherence. International trade and investment treaties contain overlapping provisions that have been subject to divergent interpretations by tribunals settling associated disputes. Proliferation of such treaties has created conflicting obligations, significant uncertainty for states and businesses, and an increasing potential for government liability. Through a comparative study of targeted countries, legal concepts and sectors, this project reconceptualises the fields of international trade and investment law in order to maximise their coherence. By providing a framework for reform of existing treaties and negotiation of future treaties, the project offers concrete benefits for government and industry through increased consistency and predictability.Read moreRead less
Responsibility, regionalism and refugees. This project will ask how responsibility for refugees may be shared among countries, resulting in guiding principles for policy makers and other outputs that will inform debates about potential models for responsibility sharing at the United Nations and within Australia.
Revisiting Australia’s preferential trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties to safeguard regulatory autonomy. This project critically evaluates Australia’s free trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties in the light of recent national and international experience. Its recommendations for systematically revising existing agreements and refining approaches to negotiating new agreements will assist in protecting Australian policy space.
From famine to food security: the role of international law. This project addresses the pressing question of how the international governance framework might be reformed to avoid future food crises. It will make a major contribution to debates about the role that international law and international institutions can play in addressing current threats to food security.
A legal analysis of Australia's future engagement with Asia-Pacific security institutions. The security landscape of the Asia-Pacific is rapidly changing with significant implications for Australia. This project examines Australia's engagement with regional institutions to address contemporary regional security challenges by engaging critical legal analysis and through collaboration with Asia-Pacific security analysts and policy-makers.
Terrorism and the international law of armed conflict. This project investigates the scope, effectiveness and legitimacy of the international law of armed conflict as it applies to terrorist and counter-terrorist violence in armed conflicts. It aims to improve understanding of the legal regulation of such violence and thus ultimately to diminish human suffering in war.
Small States' use of law of the sea litigation against greater powers. This project will investigate how small States are using law of the sea dispute settlement mechanisms to gain political advantages in conflicts with greater powers, including Security Council permanent members. It is important to understand how the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea can be leveraged to defend coastal State rights in strategic disputes concerning sovereign rights, unresolved boundaries, and military affairs. ....Small States' use of law of the sea litigation against greater powers. This project will investigate how small States are using law of the sea dispute settlement mechanisms to gain political advantages in conflicts with greater powers, including Security Council permanent members. It is important to understand how the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea can be leveraged to defend coastal State rights in strategic disputes concerning sovereign rights, unresolved boundaries, and military affairs. This research will better equip lawyers and policy makers to understand how such strategic litigation strengthens or undermines the rules based order at sea. The project will assist Australia to maintain its leading role in defending that maritime order and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as its cornerstone.Read moreRead less
The emerging international law of terrorism. This project examines how international law responds to terrorism and critiques the legitimacy and effectiveness of those responses. The project will improve the international community's knowledge about the effective regulation of terrorist violence within a rule of law framework, and identify opportunities for improving international responses.
International Law and the Cold War. This project is about international law and the Cold War. It seeks to re-read international law and the Cold War as mutually constitutive in a ground-breaking reconceptualisation of contemporary international law as a product of the Cold War, and the Cold War as a juridical category. It will produce the first history and theory of the relationship between international law and the Cold War. This new history will contribute to wider debates about the future of ....International Law and the Cold War. This project is about international law and the Cold War. It seeks to re-read international law and the Cold War as mutually constitutive in a ground-breaking reconceptualisation of contemporary international law as a product of the Cold War, and the Cold War as a juridical category. It will produce the first history and theory of the relationship between international law and the Cold War. This new history will contribute to wider debates about the future of the international legal and diplomatic order. This is particularly relevant now, when emerging global divisions threaten to repeat the ideological enmity and paranoia that was a feature of the Cold War period.Read moreRead less