CIGIOnline Breadcrumb Building the Rule of Law in International Affairs

Building the Rule of Law in International Affairs

Project Members: Ramesh Thakur

The Rule of Law is a majestic phrase with many largely reinforcing and supportive meanings. It stands for a fundamental value/ideal, an ethic for lawyers and officials, the basic principles of constitutionalism and a set of institutions that supports its attainment. While these multiple meanings and dimensions may occasionally serve to confuse, each of them are vital in achieving the others. The partial achievement of each supports the fuller achievement of all.

The Secretary-General's Report of August 2005 underlined the need for a more coherent institutional framework of international legal governance, with better coordination and monitoring. The Building the Rule of Law in International Affairs project seeks to further those aims by finding solutions to overcoming difficulties associated with developing and operationalizing an international rule of law.

The project has three overarching objectives: to bring together research of others to the United Nations; to develop codes of ethics for key actors operating at the international level; and to produce edited collections, to be launched at the UN with various roundtable discussions.

 

PARTNERS

 

AREAS OF RESEARCH

  • The Rule of Law as a fundamental governance value
  • The Rule of Law as an ethic for officials
  • The Rule of Law as a basic constitutional principle
  • The Rule of Law as a set of institutions
  • The Rule of law and nascent integrity systems

 

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The project, in three phases, will involve a series of conferences, workshops and roundtables designed to help operationalize the rule of law in the international system.

Related Materials

Which Way Is Latin America?
Article
Geoff Burt
The military coup in Honduras that ousted President Zelaya was an exception, not the norm, in Latin American politics, say Drs. Andrew F. Cooper and Jorge Heine. Current leadership in the region generally supports democracy and regional integration. At a public lecture, they discussed evolutions in Latin American politics, which is also the topic of their recently published book, Which Way Latin America? Hemispheric Politics Meets Globalization.
Workshop: Ethical Supports for Strengthening International Rule of Law
Article
Deanne Leifso
In a workshop held on October 19-20, 2009, experts met at CIGI to discuss ideas to create a better institutional framework for international rule of law with enhanced coordination and monitoring. Among many topics, they looked at how to define, promote and enhance the international rule of law. This workshop is the first of a series to be held as part of CIGI's project, Building the Rule of Law in International Affairs.
The petty power of public officials
Article
Ramesh Thakur
As societies have become more complex, the balance of power has shifted away from citizens toward governments. Laws and regulations encompassing functions of government are deeply intrusive in requiring information and compliance.