Call for Papers: Workshop on The Role of the Causal Inquiry in Establishing State Responsibility in International Law Lund University, 28–29 May 2026

Call for Papers

Workshop on The Role of the Causal Inquiry in Establishing State Responsibility in International Law
Lund University, 28–29 May 2026  

Conveners: Vladislava Stoyanova - Lund University & Ilias Plakokefalos

Workshop Theme and Objectives 
Causation—or the causal inquiry—is a fundamental yet understudied concept in international law. Despite its centrality in determining legal responsibility across domestic legal systems, international courts and tribunals have yet to develop a coherent approach to causation. The existing literature remains fragmented, often neglecting the conceptual and doctrinal challenges posed by causal reasoning in international legal disputes.  
The main goal of the workshop is to identify the pertinent aspects of causation, or causal inquiry in international law. The idea is to present the various aspects of causation in international law as they appear in various particular issue areas. We have identified six issue areas: law of the sea, environmental law, refugee law, human rights law, law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law, and international trade and investment law. The differences between the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law and between international trade and investment law are not, of course, negligible. But taking into consideration constraints of space we have made the tentative decision to group them together.

We therefore seek submissions for the following areas of international law:  
- Human rights law  
- Law of the sea  
- Environmental law  
- Refugee law  
- Law of armed conflict / international humanitarian law  
- International trade and investment law  

By bringing together scholars and practitioners, the workshop aims to:  
1. Map and analyze the causal tests employed by international courts and tribunals.  
2. Explore the relationship between causation and related concepts (e.g., foreseeability, risk, prevention, reasonableness).  
3. Investigate how causation shapes the existence, scope, and breach of obligations (e.g., due diligence, positive obligations).  
4. Examine the interplay between causation, proof (burden and standards), and procedural admissibility rules.  
The workshop will serve as the foundation for a special journal issue in the Journal of International Dispute Settlement | Oxford Academic , offering a systemic framework for understanding causation in international law. All submissions will be subject to peer review and therefore, publication will be conditioned on the reviewers’ reports.

Instructions and Key Themes for Submission 
Interested scholars should submit the following: 
(1) proposal of at least 2 000 words outlining the planned article and addressing causation in international law, particularly (but not exclusively) on the following themes:  
- Causal tests in jurisprudence: How do courts/tribunals justify (or neglect to justify) their causal reasoning?  
- Causation and associated concepts: How do foreseeability, risk, or precaution interact with causal inquiries?  
- Causation and primary obligations: How does the nature and scope of primary obligations (e.g., in climate litigation or human rights cases) affect the causal inquiry?  
- Causation and evidence: What role do burden/standards of proof play in the causal analysis by the courts or the submissions of the parties to a dispute?  
(2) a CV.

Submission Guidelines
Proposals should be submitted to both Conveners by email (vladislava [dot] stoyanova [at] jur [dot] lu [dot] se ; iplakoke [at] pspa [dot] uoa [dot] gr) by 8 November 2025.  
Selected participants will be notified by 18 November 2025.
Draft papers will be due by 12 April 2026. Published articles and those in the process of publication are not eligible.  
Funding will be available for travel and one day accommodation.
Additional Information 
For inquiries, please contact Vladislava Stoyanova (vladislava [dot] stoyanova [at] jur [dot] lu [dot] se ) and Ilias Plakokefalos (iplakoke [at] pspa [dot] uoa [dot] gr).  

We look forward to your contributions!  

Call for Papers

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Hosted by Lund University and National & Kapodistrian University of Athens | 
Convened by Dr. Vladislava Stoyanova (Associate Professor in Public International Law) & Dr. Ilias Plakokefalos (Assistant Professor of International Law)