The 16h Annual Conference
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Chuo University Myogadani Campus, Tokyo
Supported by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)
Is There Anything Asian about International Law in Asia, and Should There Be?
There is a growing awareness of European international law, and sometimes of Latin American or African international law. Is there such a thing as Asian international law? At first glance, the answer seems to be no. Not only are the historical backgrounds diverse, with cultural legacies ranging from Confucianism to Islamic traditions, but there is no regional institution to give shape to the Asian legal heritage, even if there were such a thing. However, while not representative of all of Asia, there may be some elements of regional or sub-regional peculiarities in international law as practiced or proclaimed by Asian public and private entities. Should we claim the existence of an “Asian international law” with them? Or should such parochialism be seen as a threat to the universality of international law?
The 2025 Annual Conference will address research findings from diverse fields of international law, spanning historical to current issues, encompassing both, private and public international law, as well as substantive law and the dynamics of law, in the hope of cross-sectoral dialogue and collaboration.
For more information, please visit asiansil-jp.org