JurisDictions: International law podcast

T.M.C. Asser Instituut

How is it that a movie about a children’s toy can raise tensions over territorial sovereignty? And why is it that certain international disputes draw more global attention than others? This monthly educational podcast by the Asser Institute, research centre for international and European law, explores such questions. It focuses on the stories behind international legal concepts and issues that shape our world.

  1. MAR 10

    Marketing Justice

    We sometimes hear discussions that frame international dispute settlement in the language of markets. Consider the various discussions surrounding how international actors engage in ‘forum shopping’, looking for their preferred international dispute settlement venue amongst various available options. But what happens when we begin imagining courts and tribunals as active participants in this market? In what sense could we speak of courts and tribunals engaging in marketing?  Guests   Dr Georgia Antonopoulou, Assistant Professor in Commercial Dispute Resolution, Birmingham Law School, College of Arts and Law.   Professor Christine Schwöbel-Patel, Warwick Law School, the University of Warwick  Host  Eduardo Silva de Freitas, PhD candidate at Erasmus University Rotterdam and junior researcher in private international law at the T.M.C. Asser Institute.    Further reading  Christine Schwöbel-Patel, 'Spectacle in international criminal law: the fundraising image of victimhood' (2016) 4 London Review of International Law 247.  Christine Schwöbel-Patel, 'The ‘Ideal’ Victim of International Criminal Law' (2018) 29 European Journal of International Law 703.  Georgia Antonopoulou, 'The ‘Arbitralization’ of Courts: The Role of International Commercial Arbitration in the Establishment and the Procedural Design of International Commercial Courts' (2023) 14 Journal of International Dispute Settlement 328.  Georgia Antonopoulou, 'Forum Marketing in International Commercial Courts?' (2024) 44 Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 860.

    44 min
  2. 12/09/2025

    Strategic Litigation: An interview with Nani Jansen Reventlow

    In this episode, Taylor Kate Woodcock, Researcher in Public International Law at the Asser Institute interviews Nani Jansen Reventlow, author and award-winning human rights lawyer specialised in strategic litigation at the intersection of human rights, social justice, and technology. Founder of Systemic Justice and the Digital Freedom Fund, Nani has overseen litigation worldwide, leading cases before national courts, the European Court of Human Rights, African Court on Human and Peoples Rights, and UN Human Rights Committee, amongst others. Nani joins Taylor to explain strategic litigation, her trajectory in the field and experiences working with marginalized communities in trauma informed ways, providing practical insights and hope for the pursuit of material, structural change through strategic litigation. For more information on Nani Jansen Reventlow’s recent and upcoming publications, see: ·        N Jansen Reventlow - Radical Justice: Building the world we need – Available in Dutch and for Pre-order in English. As a special treat for listeners, use discount codeJUSTICE15 here to get 15% off orders of 'Radical Justice' in English (discount code expires on 20 March 2027). ·        Read more about Intersectionality and Human Rights: Reimagining European Court of Human Rights Judgments – Edited by Nani Jansen Reventlow, Eddie Bruce-Jones, Lyn K. L. Tjoin Soei Len and Adam Weiss here.

    59 min
  3. 03/21/2025

    Rights, Transfers, and Transnational Law: Exploring Football's Legal and Regulatory Landscape

    In this episode, we reflect on international sports law and the governance of football. Joined by Dr. Antoine Duval, we discuss the complexities of the football transfer system, particularly considering historical shifts following two landmark judgements: the Bosman (European Court of Justice, 1995) and the Diarra (Court of Justice of the European Union, 2024) rulings.   How have these landmark rulings offered the possibility for the football transfer system to shift in favour of players? What even is a football transfer? And, more broadly, what legal and ethical issues arise around the ‘world's game' and football mega events like the upcoming 2034 FIFA Men’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia? In this episode, we discuss all of this and more.  Guest:   Dr Antoine Duval, Senior Researcher in International Law, TMC Asser Institute  Host and Editor:  Flora Bensadon, Research Trainee, TMC Asser Institute   Editor:  Dr Carl Lewis, Researcher in Public International Law, TMC Asser Institute   Further reading:  A Duval, 'Football at a Crossroads' (2024) Verfassungsblog   Bosman ruling (Case C415/93): Union royal belge des sociétés de football association ASBL, Royal club liégeois SA v Jean March Bosman and others and Union des associations européennes de football (UEFA) v Jean-Marc Bosman.  Diarra ruling (Case C-650/22): Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA) v BZ.   For further information, news and readings on questions of transnational sports law please visit the Asser International Sports Law Centre webpage.

    46 min
  4. 12/19/2024

    The Rules of Modern Warfare and Ancient Traditions

    In this episode, we reflect on how Dharmic traditions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, engaged with principles of humanity in warfare long before the codification of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) with the Geneva Conventions. Joined by Dr. Robert Heinsch, Dr. Raj Balkaran, and Dr. Christina Kilby, we consider key IHL concepts such as collateral damage and proportionality, while reflecting on what ancient philosophies, theologies and laws can teach us about ethical warfare today. By reflecting on various historical roots and traditions of humanitarian principles, the episode seeks to encourage engagement with the evolution and applications of the laws of armed conflict. What role do the principles of humanity, distinction and proportionality play in the law of armed conflict? How does the element of storytelling in the Sanskrit epics contribute to the dissemination of ethical values? How has religion influenced International Humanitarian Law, specifically the implementation of humanitarian principles?  Guests:    Dr. Robert Heinsch, Associate Professor in International Law at Leiden University  Dr. Raj Balkaran, Scholar of Sanskrit Narrative Literature, Public Intellectual, Online Educator  Dr. Christina Kilby, Associate Professor of Religion at James Madison University    Editors:   Host - Dr Carl Lewis, Researcher in Public International Law, TMC Asser Institute   Co-host - Wamika Sachdev, Intern, Asser Institute   Flora Bensadon, Intern, Asser Institute

    54 min

About

How is it that a movie about a children’s toy can raise tensions over territorial sovereignty? And why is it that certain international disputes draw more global attention than others? This monthly educational podcast by the Asser Institute, research centre for international and European law, explores such questions. It focuses on the stories behind international legal concepts and issues that shape our world.

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