The Future of International Law: Reflections on Challenges New and Old
National University of Singapore Centre for International Law/UCL Laws conference
The NUS Centre for International Law was delighted to partner with UCL Laws for our first jointly organised conference in London on “The Future of International Law: Reflections on Challenges New and Old” (4 February 2026).
The conference was well attended and featured lively exchanges throughout. In the welcome and opening remarks, Professor Kimberley Trapp, Dr Nilufer Oral, Professor Martins Paparinskis underscored the continuing significance of international law, even as it faces unprecedented pressures.
Across a series of engaging panels, speakers examined the (non-)peaceful settlement of international disputes, traditional and emerging tensions across key fields of international law, and the particular challenges posed by cyberspace and artificial intelligence, before concluding with a high-energy roundtable on the future of universalism.
Our heartfelt thanks to all speakers and participants for bringing the day to life with their insights, expertise and generosity. Despite the dark clouds of doubt in these tumultuous times, the conference also revealed some real grounds for hope for international law.
PRE-EVENT INFORMATION
About this conference
International law is at the forefront of addressing crucial future challenges but is under pressures unprecedented since the founding of the United Nations Charter order. The NUS Centre for International Law and UCL Laws will bring together leading public international law experts to tackle three selected themes for the future of international law:
- the (non-)peacefulness of the settlement of international disputes,
- the interplay of strain and creativity in established fields of international law (climate change, critical submarine infrastructure, international trade, and the mechanisms for codification and progressive development), and
- new challenges posed by cyberspace and Artificial Intelligence.
This event takes a longue durée perspective on the development of public international law, considering in turn the future through the lenses of these selected themes and concluding with a high-level roundtable discussion on the future of universalism.
We welcome practitioners, scholars and students to join us for the full day or just the evening high-level roundtable.