The International and Comparative Law Quarterly (ICLQ) proudly announces the launch of the ICLQ Forum, a special issue of the journal dedicated to showcasing the breadth of topics that fall within the thematic scope of the Journal. Each Forum will focus on a single theme, allowing for in-depth analysis of its multi-faceted dimensions, diverse expert perspectives and novel approaches, stimulating new avenues for research while benefitting from the rigorous academic scrutiny and support of the ICLQ editorial process.
Drawing on the expertise of scholars from around the globe, papers will be sought in a variety of different ways, such as an open call for contributions. In line with our commitment to inclusivity and promoting diversity in scholarly publishing, the ICLQ will actively seek out research from early career academics and under-represented communities to help ensure a balanced representation of voices in academic discourse.
Under the stewardship of a team of Co-Editors drawn from the Editorial Board of the ICLQ and its home institution the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), along with invited experts, the Forum will benefit from a double-blind peer review process and be subject to our usual high quality editorial control.
The ICLQ Forum will be available both online and in print. Authors will have the option to publish their work Open Access to further promote dissemination to a wide audience.
The inaugural Forum will focus on ‘Law of the Sea: Present Challenges and Future Directions’ and will be co-edited by former ICLQ General Editor Professor Sir Malcolm Evans, ICLQ Editorial Board Member Professor Richard Barnes, invited expert Dr Rozemarijn Roland Holst, and Dr Constantinos Yiallourides and Dr Jack Kenny of BIICL.
Call for Papers
Since the publication of the first issue of the ICLQ in 1952, the law of the sea has been a mainstay of the Journal’s contributions to the wider understanding and development of international law.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is described as a ‘living treaty’, and the law of the sea is a dynamic and creative field of study able to respond to novel situations. Yet we are faced with challenges that stretch the law’s capacity to effectively govern the ocean in the face of systemic challenges such as climate change, intensified use of ocean space and resources, and increasing insecurity at sea, whether from geopolitical instability, environmental degradation, or exploitation of people. In the face of such challenges, it is timely to reflect upon how the law of the sea can respond. We welcome submissions on a range of topics including, but not limited to, climate change and sea level rise, human rights at sea, militarisation and maritime security, the protection of maritime communication infrastructures, deep seabed mining regime, the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, governing marine living resources, and developments in maritime delimitation. Reflecting the importance of the law of the sea to both international law and to the ICLQ, we are particularly interested in papers that draw out systemic issues between the law of the sea and broader questions of international law or have a more reflective, forward-looking perspective.
Article Submissions
The ICLQ invites authors to submit articles of 6-8,000 words (including footnotes) via the ScholarOne platform by 31st August 2024 (selecting ‘Forum’ as the article type).
Manuscripts must not have been previously published, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere. Please include an abstract of no more than 200 words.
Articles will be considered by the Co-Editors on the basis of academic merit and fit with the Forum theme and competitively selected using a double-blind peer review process. We anticipate that authors will be notified of the outcome by the end of October, with the final versions of the selected papers to be submitted by early December, and publication expected in mid-2025.
Inquiries
Inquiries with respect to article themes should be directed to the Co-Editors via the ICLQ Managing Editor, Anna Riddell-Roberts a.riddell@biicl.org, who can also answer any queries about the submission process.