Katsoni, Spyridoula

Thielbörger, Pierre

English

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Chatting with Pierre ThielbörgerSpyridoula Katsoni, Pierre Thielbörger 2024-05-10T08:00:42Welcome to the latest interview of the Völkerrechtsblog’s symposium ‘ThePerson behind the Academic’! With us we have Prof. Pierre Thielbörger, andthrough the following questions, we will try to get a glimpse of his interests,sources of inspiration and habits.Welcome Prof. Thielbörger and thank you very much for accepting ourinvitation!May I first ask, what it was that brought you to academia and what made youstay?When I was younger, I also received an education as a journalist. I realized soonthe difference in terms of depth with which academics and journalists can look intotopics. Eventually, I was more attracted to the ‘deep dive’ than the ‘snorkelling’.Besides, I wrote my PhD at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence. Thisplace is one of the most prominent birthplaces for future academics, and showcasesthe best of academia: free thinking, interdisciplinarity, international exchange. And allof that on an idyllic hill in beautiful Tuscany. Who could resist the temptation to followa career in academia if the first steps on the path are like this?If you were not an academic, what would you be?Like many academics, I sometimes worry not to have enough ‘practical impact’with my work. To write about human rights is good and important, but what aboutimplementation in practice? So I have always strived to combine my own theoreticalwork with policy advice, e.g. to governments or IOs, or to work together withinstitutions that advocate for human rights and IHL (e.g. the German Institute onhuman rights or the Red Cross, to name just two). If I had ended up outside ofacademia, I would likely still work on the same topics, just more from the practicalside, e.g. as a politician or at an international organization or NGO. And, of course,when I was much younger, I wanted to be an actor – but that has remained a hobby.I guess I wasn’t courageous enough to go for that.Which are three texts that you would wish all academics working oninternational law would read?Instead of recommending three specific books, I would generally recommend us allto read texts by younger scholars. They often bring new ideas and unconventionalperspectives. I would recommend, for instance, the new textbook “InternationalLaw: A multi-disciplinary perspective” by Sué Hauck, Isabel Lischewski and MaxMilas (Routledge), “Rechtsnormen und Legitimität in der Friedensmediation” byFelix Würkert (Nomos), or “The effects of armed conflicts on investment treaties” byTobias Ackermann (Cambridge UP). I have almost 20 PhD students and often serve- 1 -in PhD award committees. I think we all should generally give more regard to theseworks by younger aspiring scholars.What is your favourite place to read and write? What is always near you whenyou read and write?Who doesn’t fantasize about writing in beautiful places with excellent weather? Ifonly at the beach, the article would write itself, etc. The truth, however, is that thesecircumstances tend to distract me. So while my “favourite” place to read and writemight still be a beach bar with cocktail in hand etc., the “best” place is probably theopposite: a barren desk in a boring library or office.What is an energy and inspiration booster, at times when you have none?I think all parents would answer this question the same: my kids. While they oftendrive us crazy, they also give us incredibly much energy, at times. When thinkingabout our own kids, it becomes clear why we strive for a better world, in what evercapacity we do that.Have you ever drawn influence from any form of art in your work? Is thereanything artistic about teaching or writing academic texts?If you enter the main library at Ruhr University Bochum, you will be greeted by amassive replica of Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica” painting. As most readers will know,Guernica is one of Picasso’s best-known works, exhibited in the Reina Sofia inMadrid. Many say it is the most expressive and powerful anti-war painting in history.Picasso created it in the 1930s to convey the negative effects of war by recreatinga real event: the bombing of the Basque town Guernica by the Nazis during theSpanish Civil War. Although it yielded almost no military advantage, it was carriedout with incredible disregard for human suffering.Why has this influenced my work or my thinking? First, in Bochum, I am the directorof an Institute that specializes in the international law of peace and armed conflict.We do research about the rules that apply during armed conflicts. This paintingreminds us every day of the horrors of war, and emphasizes the importance of theprinciples of IHL (e.g. the principles of distinction or humanity, or the prohibition ofunnecessary suffering.)Second, the replica was actually drawn up by students many years ago. I am untiltoday impressed that the students of that time selected this specific picture whenchoosing between hundreds of possible images. It makes me proud of how well thestudents of my university understood the link between university education and thepromotion of peace.As a side remark, I have a huge painting of the young Paul Mc Cartney in my ownoffice. But that has less to do with my work, and more my own music and art taste.If you could, which advice would you give to yourself at the early stages ofyour career?- 2 -Maybe some readers might know that I am a very passionate Jessuper. I have beena coach for many years, and now I am a judge. As a student, I didn’t participate, andI really regret this. However, it wasn’t so much that I decided against it. I was rathernot aware of the Jessup existing at my university at the time. So my advice would beto get better informed about your own possibilities – often there is more available tous than we know.Another advice to younger researchers would be to do what they really care aboutat university. Many choose strategically a field of study in which they see best careerprospects. For me, however, university is more than a place that prepares us for ourlater work. I would encourage law students and early career researchers to not beshy to choose a specialisation they are interested in – as exotic as the topic mightappear. Later in life, we all have to make enough compromises. University timeshould remain a time in which we allow ourselves the luxury to follow our interests.There is, however, a third advice, and that might be sometimes in contradiction tothe second one. While it is important to follow your passion, it is equally important towork on something for which you have talent. Think about a professional singer orathlete: you need vocal or physical talent for the craft you do. Being “good at yourjob” is an often underrated component of professional well-being and advancement.Having said that, I am not sure whether the advice would have made much of adifference: after all, the younger version of myself was not very receptive to advice…Have you experienced or witnessed discrimination in academic circles? Howhave you reacted to these instances?As in all areas of professional life, there is discrimination in academia, of course.In legal academia, women are particularly under-represented. There is a growingawareness of that. We should, however, not forget other groups that are alsoseverely under-represented and regularly discriminated against. These includepeople of colour, the LGBTTIQ* community, and people from families without anyacademic background. I am particularly proud, for example, that my university hasa high number of students who are the first in their families to pursue a universityeducation, and we all need to think even harder about how to make sure that theyhave equal opportunities.Ideally, whom would you want to find waiting for a meeting with you outsideyour office next Monday?Good question. Maybe my kids. They really idealize my office: they don’t understandthis ‘mystical place’ their father so often goes to, which they are not usually allowedto accompany him to. (It might also have to do with the fact that my secretary alwayshas chocolate in her desk). When they are a bit older, surprise visits would be verynice, but I fear the chocolate will be less appealing then.What are you working on currently? What may we anticipate in the nearfuture?- 3 -I am currently working on the next edition of the textbook on humanitarian actionthat I am co-editing with my colleague Professor Heintze. I am also working ondifferent projects in the field of business and human rights for which I recently wonsome funding. So we are currently preparing a global conference to be held in SouthAfrica. And ever since my PhD, the right to water has remained, and will remain, aconstant companion in my academic life.Thank you very much, Prof. Thielbörger, for participating in our symposiumand for having taken the time to respond to our questions!- 4 -

Chatting with Pierre Thielbörger

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Chatting with Pierre Thielbörger

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