[Asser Institute Doctoral Seminar Series] Arms trade and conventional weapons

The Asser Institute Doctoral Seminar Series on International Arms Control Law will provide a select number of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers with insights into the current and future issues raised by International Arms Control Law with perspectives from international law and related disciplines. At each seminar, academics and practitioners will deliver four expert lectures on the international legal framework of arms control, geo-political perspectives on arms control, institutional and procedural frameworks for control and disarmament, as well as emerging issues and trends. Additionally, the seminar provides an opportunity for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to present an aspect of their research as a springboard for discussions on the topic of International Arms Control, seeking to foster interdisciplinary exchange among peers in a low-stakes environment.

Arms trade and conventional weapons

The first 2022 doctoral seminar features the topic 'Arms trade and conventional weapons'. Conventional weapons encompass a wide range of military equipment other than weapons of mass destruction. Conventional weapons, such as combat vehicles, small arms and light weapons, landmines and ammunition, are the most common type of armament globally and feature most often in conflict situations. Unlike weapons of mass destruction, no general international norms forbid the use of conventional weapons. Instead, international law focuses on regulating the arms trade and irresponsible transfers of weapons to conflicts where they are likely to exacerbate violence and human rights abuse, such as through the Arms Trade Treaty, multilateral arms embargoes and export control regimes. Geo-political tensions and stretched national resources repeatedly test the effectivity of these mechanisms, requiring actors to focus on new approaches to reducing the negative impact of conventional weapons.

Participation

Participants may be undertaking doctoral/postdoctoral research in legal, historical, political or theoretical fields. Participants are asked to present an abstract summarizing an aspect of their doctoral research related to the Arms Trade and/or Conventional Weapons. 

Doctoral students that are interested in participating in the workshop should register their interest with Thea Coventry by 1 June. Participants will be expected to follow up with an abstract that will form the basis of the workshop discussions a week later (by 8 June).

Financial support for travel and accommodation

Limited financial assistance is available for PhD students that require travel and accommodation. Please contact Thea directly to discuss the details and logistics.

Coordinators

Thilo Marauhn

Thilo Marauhn is a researcher in the research strand 'Regulation in the public interest: Disruptive technologies in peace and security.' Since 2016 Thilo has been Head of the Research Group on International Law at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), Member of the Leibniz Association. PRIF is one of the leading peace research institutes in Europe. Since 2017 he has been President of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission. Marauhn combines his endowed professorship in Arms Control Law with his work as Professor of Public Law and International Law at the Justus-Liebig Universität Giessen and at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt in Germany.

Thea Coventry

Thea Coventry also forms part of the ‘Regulation in the public interest: disruptive technologies in peace and security’ strand of research. Thea is completing her PhD (Leiden University) investigating the role of accidental and strategic textual ambiguity in the progressive development and codification of legal rules in the field of State criminal jurisdiction. Her research interests include international arms control law, maritime security, and transnational criminal law.