Rules or Power? Defending International Law in a Changing World
A conversation with
Mary Robinson
Former President of Ireland and Founding Member of The Elders
and
Michael Doyle
University Professor of International Affairs, Law and Political Science
In a world where violations of international law are increasingly normalized and the institutions that uphold it are under sustained attack, how can we defend a rules-based order? In this conversation, former President of Ireland and member of The Elders, Mary Robinson, will reflect with students on the growing risks of a “might-is-right” world, why international law matters, and what it means to stand up for the principles on which it is built.
Drawing on her decades of work in international law and human rights, Mary Robinson will also explore the tangible ways international law shapes our everyday lives, from the food we eat and the rights and protections we often take for granted to the rules that govern relations between states. The conversation will invite students to consider what is at stake when international law is undermined, and what each of us can do to help defend it.
Columbia University students are invited to participate in a moderated question-and-answer session.
Advance registration is required for in-person attendance. Registration will remain open until Friday, September 18, at noon, or until capacity is reached.