One of the world’s leading specialists in British policy and international law, Professor Anthony Carty, will kick off the first in a series of lectures by some of the University of Aberdeen’s newest members of academic staff.
Professor Carty’s lecture, entitled International Law in a Time of Crisis: Do we need to re-think the foundations, has attracted almost 200 people who will gather in the King’s College Centre tonight (Monday, October 23) at 6.30pm.
The lecture forms part of the University’s Inaugural Lecture series, Breaking New Ground, in which five separate lectures will be delivered.
Professor Carty will focus on whether, with Iraq and the war on terror, international law is ready for its present challenges, or if it needs to re-think its foundations? Since the Wars of Religion in the 17th century, Europe has tried to escape the dangers of religious intolerance by grounding international legal order in the virtues and ideals of the Enlightenment.
At tonight’s lecture, Professor Carty will explore whether or not - in the face of American Christian fundamentalism and Islamic Militant fundamentalism - Europe can find a way beyond the scepticism of post-modern culture to reach a new vision for international law.
Professor Carty's distinguished career boasts eminent positions in leading universities across the globe including chair appointments in Berlin, Paris, Tokyo and Madrid. He holds membership in the major, global research boards and societies for International Law and Human Rights.