We live in an era marked by heightened polarization. International lawyers and actors are increasingly confronted with a wide array of challenges, stemming from populist politics, migration, climate change, supply chain disruptions, economic inequality, disputes over resources, and armed conflicts. In turn, attempts to address these issues are frequently criticized for being inadequate, for serving the interests of a privileged few, or as illustrating the unequal application of legal norms. These demands place significant strain on actors and institutions in the international legal system. While skepticism about the effectiveness of international law is not new, it’s suggested that there is something different about the current developments. The quickening turn to a multipolar world, combined with heightened polarization between and within national societies, present two sources of pressure on international legal institutions, and on everyday practices within them.

The point of departure of this workshop is the recognition that international law operates within – and is shaped by – diverse social processes and factors, such as social identity, formal and informal hierarchies, socialization, collective memory, and socio-cognitive frameworks.

Against this backdrop, the Sixth Workshop on Sociological Inquiries into International Law will be held. Participants will explore how sociological perspectives can deepen our understanding of the range of current challenges for the international legal system, their effects within and beyond legal institutions, and the potential responses offered to these challenges.