The Coherence of International Law – An Illustration by International Investment Law

The contemporary international law discourse has for many years been captured by the unity/ fragmentation debate. Yet, these concepts are of little help when one tries to understand how the international legal order really works, i.e., how the various entities and their interests interact on the international plane. This article argues that the concept of ‘coherence’ manages to reach such an understanding. In support of this statement, this article analyses how this Aristotelian concept allows one to conceive of the synchronic and diachronic balancing of interests which characterizes the making of international law. To do so, it focuses on international investment law. More precisely, it first describes the various interests at stake in investment treaty arbitration. It then examines how they are synchronically balanced by arbitrators to settle a dispute. Finally, it investigates how they are diachronically balanced by the arbitration practice as a whole. Thereby, this article addresses various issues. In particular, it conceptualizes the conflicts that arise from investment disputes as conflict of interests and not as normative conflicts. Furthermore, it studies the role of legitimate expectations and “distinct investment-backed expectations” as methods of balancing. Last but not least, it emphasizes the systemization of the international investment law regime and the importance of “jurisprudences constantes”

Du “dilemme du prisonnier” au “jeu d’intégration” – L’internationalisation de la responsabilité pénale pour pratiques de corruption active

The current conventional strategy to fight transnational corruption relies on two pillars: the harmonization of the crime of corruption under domestic law and interstate judicial cooperation. This article unravels and analyses the deficiencies of this strategy. To meet the challenge raised by the transnational nature of this crime, it calls for a real internationalization of the fight against corruption and examines the role that the International Criminal Court could play in this respect

Regulatory Measures in International Investment Law : To Be Or Not To Be Compensated – A Commentary of Philip Morris v Uruguay

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In Defense of Generalism in International Legal Scholarship and Practice

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Balancing the Public and the Private in International Investment Law and Arbitration

This chapter considers the intricate relations between the public interest embodied by host states and the private interest of foreign investors. While international investment law is often conceived of as favouring investors’ interests at the expense of public interest, the chapter argues that due consideration has always been granted to public interest in this regime and that public interest is likely to play an increasing role in the future. From that perspective, this chapter analyzes the relations between public and private interests both in states’ treaty practice and arbitration practice. More precisely, it explains how conventional practice can be viewed as crystallizing a balancing between public and private interests and examines the tools that are available to arbitration tribunals to balance these interests. In this respect, the chapter discusses the notion of legitimate expectations, proportionality, precedent, and jurisprudence constante

Du “dilemme du prisonnier” au “jeu d’intégration” – L’internationalisation de la responsabilité pénale pour pratiques de corruption active

The current conventional strategy to fight transnational corruption relies on two pillars: the harmonization of the crime of corruption under domestic law and interstate judicial cooperation. This article unravels and analyses the deficiencies of this strategy. To meet the challenge raised by the transnational nature of this crime, it calls for a real internationalization of the fight against corruption and examines the role that the International Criminal Court could play in this respect

La standardisation et le droit international - Contours d’une théorie dialectique de la formation du droit

Cet ouvrage propose une théorie dialectique de la formation du droit : la standardisation. Cette théorie inscrit la réflexion sur la formation du droit dans un cadre conceptuel novateur, caractérisé par le procéduralisme et le systémisme. Ce faisant, elle renouvelle l’approche positiviste classique qui envisage la création du droit statiquement, par le prisme des sources. Cette nouvelle théorie permet de penser la formation du droit dans un archétype idéal, l’ordre juridique coopératif, et est ici étudiée à l’égard de deux ordres coopératifs contemporains: les ordres juridiques nationaux et l’ordre juridique international. Dans le cadre de l’exposé de la standardisation, cet ouvrage propose des analyses originales sur des thèmes clefs de la pensée juridique. Il en est ainsi à l’égard de concepts tels le « standard » ou l’ordre juridique, mais aussi de questions telles la normativité et ses caractéristiques, le raisonnement juridique ou encore la dichotomie création/application du droit. Au-delà et dans une perspective plus pratique, cet ouvrage offre des études détaillées de l’évolution des ordres juridiques nationaux et international ainsi que de la formation de leurs droits. Tel est notamment le cas de la formation du droit international des investissements, en relation avec les pratiques conventionnelles et arbitrales. Cet ouvrage est destiné à un large public : aux étudiants et universitaires travaillant en théorie/philosophie du droit, droit international public et droit international des investissements ; mais aussi aux étudiants et universitaires d’autres disciplines -relations internationales, sciences politiques, sociologie, philosophie- intéressés par le fonctionnement et les dynamiques animant les ordres juridiques et la formation du droit

Les réactions de l’Union Européenne à l’illicite international

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