By Rick Mendenhall
My Con Law II professor jokes that he assigns marquee cases
like Citizens United just so his
students can delight guests at the next cocktail-party they attend. I, however,
take my cocktail banter very seriously. Sometimes, I jot down key buzzwords
from that class like “Legal Process Theory,” and “Legal Realist Critique of
Classical Legal Thought,” just so I can unleash them at unsuspecting
party-goers.
That’s why this week’s American Society of International Law
(ASIL) workshop
on International Law as Behavior snagged my attention. Four words: Constructivist
International Relations Theory. I think this might be the next level of
cocktail-party banter.
Plus, the topic seems interesting: how human psychology
affects the way international actors behave vis-à-vis international law. The
lineup of speakers include heavyweight academics from across the United States.
Hope to see you there!
