Come and hear the latest research on small states!

This seminar will feature the work of four young academics:

Ms Angelique Pouponneau (University of Malta/Queen Mary University of London): Small states, climate change and protection through environmental law 

Dr Sean Morris (University of Helsinki): Impact of Brexit on the British Overseas Territories

Ms Nina Kangaloo (LSE): Migration and asylum law in Trinidad and Tobago

Dr Sapna Shaila (SOAS): Judicial independence in transitional states: the rule of law in Timor-Leste 

Book Launch: Environmental Law and Governance in the Pacific: Climate Change, Biodiversity and Communities

The Pacific is home to some of the world’s most astonishing biological and cultural diversity. At the same time, Pacific Island nations are economically and technically under-resourced in the face of tremendous environmental challenges such as destructive weather events, ocean acidification, mining, logging, overfishing, and pollution. This unique collection navigates the major environmental law and governance challenges of the present and future of the Pacific. Covering 21 Pacific Island countries and territories, including Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Samoa, and a broad range of themes, such as deep-sea mining, wetlands and mangroves, heritage, endangered species, human rights, and access to justice, Environmental Law and Governance in the Pacific provides a comprehensive and state-of-the-art overview of environmental law and governance within specific jurisdictions as well as across the Pacific region as a whole.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/centre-for-small-states-book-launch-tickets-128623054017

About the speakers

Professor Malgosia Fitzmaurice is Professor of Public International Law at Queen Mary University of London and the Nippon Foundation Professor in Marine Environmental Law at IMLI, Malta. She specialises in international environmental law, whaling, indigenous rights and the law of treaties, and has published extensively on all these subjects Her monograph on “Whaling and International Law” was published by Cambridge University Press in December 2015. In 2001 she delivered The Hague Academy of International lecture on “The International Protection of the Environment”. She was admitted to the Institut de Droit International in 2019.

Dr Joseph Foukona is an Assistant Professor in legal history at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. He was born and raised in Honiara, Solomon Islands. He received his LLB and LLM degrees from the University of the South Pacific in 2000 and 2001, and an LLM from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand in 2003. He completed a PhD on land, law and history at the Australian National University. Joseph was a lecturer for ten years at the University of the South Pacific. He has undertaken research on customary land tenure, climate change and natural disaster displacements and relocation, urban land, land reform, constitutional, and governance issues in the Pacific.

Professor Shaista Shameem is the Dean of the Justice Devendra Pathik School of Law. She attained her Doctorate in Juridical Science (SJD) from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, and holds a PhD in Sociology from that same university. She taught Sociology, Social Anthropology and Women's Studies at the School of Social Sciences at Waikato University from 1985 until 1997 when she returned to Fiji to practise law. She was Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission from 1999 until 2009 when she joined the School of Law, the University of Fiji as Associate Professor. She served in 2004-05 as UN Special Rapporteur on the Use of Mercenaries and has since 2005 been a member of the UN Working Group on Mercenaries.

Editors 

Dr Evan Hamman is a Senior Lecturer at Queensland University of Technology School of Law in Brisbane, Australia. He teaches in mining law as well as environmental and property law. His research focuses on biodiversity conservation and natural resource management in the Asia Pacific region. He has developing expertise in the domestic implementation of both the Ramsar and World Heritage regimes.

Dr Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh is an Assistant Professor of Public International Law at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at Leiden University and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Environmental Law at the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development at the University of the South Pacific. She is also an Attorney at Blue Ocean Law, a boutique international law firm based in Guam specialising in human and indigenous rights, self-determination and environmental justice in the Pacific. Prior to joining Leiden University, Margaretha was a (Senior) Lecturer in Environmental Law at the University of the South Pacific School of Law in Port Vila, Vanuatu where she coordinated the environmental law programme.
 

Watch this space for news of our March 2019 conference: Law Drafting and Law Reform in Small Jurisdictions featuring speakers from Tonga, Jersey, the Falkland Islands and more!

We are pleased to acknowledge the sponsorship of the Society of Legal Scholars for this event.

The impact of Brexit on British overseas territories and Crown dependencies has received little attention to date. These small but largely self-governing jurisdictions will face a number of challenges and opportunities once the UK withdraws from the European Union.

A panel of experts will meet to discuss some of these issues and address questions concerning the future of human rights, the impact of Brexit on environmental regulation and the fundamental question of the legal status of these small jurisdictions after withdrawal.

Chair: Dr Caroline Morris (Co-Director, Centre for Small States)

Speakers"

• Professor Nicola Barker, School of Law, University of Liverpool
• Ms Susie Alegre, Founder and Director of the Island Rights Initiative and Isle of Man Interception of Communications Commissioner on "Mapping the constitutional relationships between the UK and CDOTs after Brexit"

For more information CLICK HERE

Dr Petra Butler, Co-Director of the Centre for Small States and Professor at Victoria University of Wellington, and Gary Born, Chair of the International Arbitration practice group at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, discussed the importance of an effective, efficient and expert dispute resolution mechanism for Pacific Island countries to foster and enhance cross border trade and commerce. The focus was in particular on the role international arbitration can play to achieve the Pacific Island countries’ aim to increased participation in global trade. Diplomatic representatives from a number of Pacific nations and delegates from other institutions with interests in the region attended.

The audience was treated to an overview and history of international arbitration by Mr Born. Professor Butler’s presentation concentrated on law reform and outlined the challenges of international arbitration law reform in the Pacific Island countries due to the Islands’ pluralistic legal systems and the role of custom. She discussed how those challenges could be overcome. The ensuing discussion centered on how to facilitate ongoing reform and capacity-building in the Pacific region regarding in particular the adoption of arbitration legislation by Pacific Island States. Ana Tuiketei, a Fijian barrister and currently Visiting Foreign Lawyer at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, chaired the discussion.

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP and the Centre for Small States, Queen Mary University of London, are delighted to invite you to a discussion focusing on the importance of effective International Dispute Resolution for Pacific Island countries to foster and enhance trade and commerce. Gary Born will speak on the role of effective international dispute resolution in enhancing trade and commerce in the Pacific region. Followed by a discussion by Dr Petra Butler on the way forward and what is involved in law reform. 

To RSVP please contact: Jesse Hubbard | jesse.hubbard@wilmerhale.com 

For more information, Click here

Event 2: MICHAEL MANN IN CONVERSATION WITH KIM HILL

Hear RNZ current affairs presenter Kim Hill in conversation with award-winning climatologist, geophysicist and Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science, Dr Michael E. Mann on the current state of climate science and climate politics.

For more information Click Here

EVENT 1: LAW AS AN ACTIVISM STRATEGY

Hear three of the Pacific’s leading indigenous legal scholars on the role the law can play in addressing climate change and other pressing crises we face today. Here from Prof. D Kapua'ala Sproat, Julian Aguon and Ani Mikaere.

For more information Click Here

Defining the Small State

Methods for determining whether a state is "small" are almost as many as there are "small states".  Smallness has been defined objectively: such as number of inhabitants, geographical area, size of economy and military strength, as well as subjectively: such as domestic and foreign actors' view of the state’s size and capabilities. Some also say that it is the state's own perception of its size that determines whether a state is small. In this way, states such as Monaco and Fiji can been seen as small states, just as Iceland is considered small in comparison with Sweden, while Sweden is seen as small in comparison with Germany.  While a universal definition of the small state seems elusive, scholars must, however, take account of the difference in sizes of states/entities in each and every case study.  Otherwise they are in danger of overlooking an important explanatory variable, that of smallness. 

About the Speaker
Baldur Thorhallsson is Head and Professor at the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Iceland. He is also Jean Monnet Chair in European Studies, and Programme and Research Director at the Centre for Small States at the University of Iceland. He established the Centre for Small State Studies in 2002. His research focus is primarily on small state studies, European integration and Iceland’s foreign policy.   In 2017, he is the  Leverhulme Visiting Professor at Queen Mary University of London.

Please join us for a free roundtable discussion on the challenges and opportunities that small states and entities face in relations to Brexit. A panel of five experts on small states will reflect on the political, economical and societal consequences of Brexit for small European states, British overseas territories, and Crown dependencies. The aim of the panel discussions is to answer questions such as: How will Brexit change the relationship between Britain and these small states/entities? What does ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ Brexit mean for them? How could these small states/entities react to the Brexit negotiations between Britain and the European Union in order to secure their interests?

Sponsored by the Leverhulme Trust, the Universities of Southampton and Sheffield and the Centre for Small States, Queen Mary University of London.

Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brexit-challenges-and-opportunities-for-small-states-tickets-37186802728.

A drinks and canapes reception will follow the discussion.

To celebrate the launch of Small States in a Legal World, the Centre for Small States and Doughty St Chambers are holding a launch event where legal academics and Doughty Street Chambers practitioners will examine the challenges and opportunities for small states.   This event will also mark the launch of the Island Rights Initiative.

More information and rsvp details can be found at this link: http://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/seminars/seminar/small-states-and-the-law-challenges-and-opportunities

Please join us for the second of Professor Baldur Thorhallsson's Leverhulme Lectures on 28 April.  This is a joint event with the Centre for Security Research of the University of Edinburgh to celebrate the publication of AW Neal (ed) Security in a Small Nation: Scotland, Democracy, Politics.  

A drinks and canapés reception will follow the lecture.

Download a free copy of the book here:  http://www.openbookpublishers.com/product/524/security-in-a-small-nation--scotland--democracy--politics

RSVP here:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/professor-baldur-thorhallsson-leverhulme-lecture-new-small-states-brexit-and-seeking-shelter-to-tickets-33426989024

Speaker biographies

Andrew W. Neal is a senior lecturer in politics and international relations at the University of Edinburgh and co-director of the Centre for Security Research (CeSeR). He was principal investigator of the ESRC seminar series ‘Security in Scotland, with or without constitutional change’ (2013–2015), and is currently finalising a monograph on the relationship between security and politics.

Juliet Kaarbo is Professor of International Relations with a Chair in Foreign Policy at the University of Edinburgh. She is founding co-director of Edinburgh’s Centre for Security Research. Her research focuses on political psychology, leadership and decision making, group dynamics, foreign policy analysis and theory, parliamentary political systems, and national roles. 

Baldur Thorhallsson is Head and Professor at the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Iceland. He is also Jean Monnet Chair in European Studies, and Programme and Research Director at the Centre for Small States at the University of Iceland. He established the Centre for Small State Studies in 2002. His research focus is primarily on small state studies, European integration and Iceland’s foreign policy.   In 2017, he is the  Leverhulme Visiting Professor at Queen Mary University of London. 

Tuesday 14 March 2017 1-2pm

Queen Mary University of London, Arts One Building, Room 1.28

Professor Baldur Thorhallsson, Leverhulme Visiting Professor, School of Law, Centre for Small States at QMUL and the University of Iceland

Please RSVP to: c.morris@qmul.ac.uk

Abstract

One of the best-supported assumptions in the international relations literature is that small countries need to form alliances and seek protection from larger neighboring states and/or international institutions. Small European states have generally sought shelter from the European Union and NATO. This lecture will discuss the shelter theory and explain how it differs from traditional alliance theories. The shelter theory claims that small states are fundamentally different units than large states and need political, economic and societal shelter provided by larger states and/or international organization. On the other hand, protection may come with a certain cost. The lecture will examine why the Baltic states have been eager to seek cover by the European Union and NATO while some of the Nordic states have been reluctant to join them and have important opt-outs from the E U.

The event is jointly held between the Centre for European Research and the Centre for Small States and is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Lunch will be provided.

The result of the UK referendum on membership of the EU has caused shock waves across the UK, to Europe and beyond as people try to grapple with the complex legal, economic and political consequences of the 'Leave' vote.

Although unable to vote, the people of the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies need to consider what their interests really are for the future and how, constitutionally and legally, those interests could best be protected as the UK prepares for Brexit.  It will be up to them to make sure their voices are heard and that the new constitutional and legal landscape suits their needs.  This may require careful thought about their current constitutional position and the extent to which it allows them to forge their own relationships with the devolved nations, other countries and regional and international organisations.  The one thing all these territories have in common is that they are small communities, vulnerable to shocks from the outside world and with limited capacity for international diplomacy.  Tackling the enormity of this challenge will be a struggle.  But this break in the status quo is also an unprecedented opportunity to reset the agenda and decide what place they want in the world in the 21st Century.

For more, see: Susie Alegre, Doughty St International http://www.doughtystreetinternational.com/blog/brexit-shock-waves-offshore