SYMPOSIUM ON THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL LAW

1 | “Global Law” is an increasingly popular term, which appears in the names of research institutions and programs of study, but is also used in order to define an emerging field of law, to reconceptualize exist- ing legal doctrines, or to outline the agenda of interdisciplinary en- gagement. It may be impossible, today, to agree upon a single defini- tion of Global Law. In fact, the very existence of this new legal field is contested and its essence is viewed with suspicion. In this con- text, trying to envision the Future of Global Law appears at least au- dacious. However, it is also a worthy exercise: it could be said that thinking about the future of Global Law is thinking about the future of Law itself. The subject was chosen as the inaugural theme of the “Athens Con- temporary Law Lectures” series, which aims at nourishing the re- flection on issues transcending the national or regional frontiers. Reflecting on the topic chosen, namely the “Future of Global Law”, taking also into consideration many important contributions 1 , is nev- er a vain exercise despite its fugitive definition and character. It cultivates at least the need for global regulation important to face problems arising at the global sphere and constituting major, even existential, threats for humanity, such as environment damage and climate change, challenges to peace or health crises (as we are re- minded presently by the COVID 19 pandemic). Rethinking Global Law, despite its multilevel functions as a constitutional and international private governance, regulation and adjudication, tool, allows free- 1. N. Walker, Intimations of Global Law , Cambridge University Press, 2015; H. Muir Watt and D. Fernandez Arroyo (eds.), Private International Law and Global Governance , Oxford University Press, 2014; H. Muir Watt, L. Bizikova, A. Brandão de Oliveira, D. Fernandez Arroyo (eds), Global Private International Law- Adjudication without Frontiers , Elgar, 2019. Introduction 1