We welcome back University of Alberta Faculty of Law Professor Joanna Harrington, who took part in a two-day roundtable on international dispute settlement and the protection of individual rights last weekend in Beijing at the invitation of The Royal Institute of International Affairs, commonly known as Chatham House. Ranked as one of the world's most influential think tanks in international affairs, Chatham House is an independent policy institute focused on building a sustainably secure, prosperous, and just world. It also promotes the rigorous study of international questions.
Recognizing China's re-emerging role of significance in international affairs, the Chatham House project on "China and the Future of the International Legal Order" seeks to build a stronger understanding of China's approach to international law, and to support networking between Chinese and non-Chinese academics working on public international law issues. A central plank of the project is the holding of roundtable meetings for the exchange of views and the facilitation of face-to-face discussions under the auspices of the famous "Chatham House rule". Dating back to 1927, the Chatham House rule holds that information at a meeting may be reported, but the source may not be identified.
Last weekend's roundtable took place at the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL); the home of China's largest law school with more than 4,000 law students. Chinese academics were invited from prominent institutions in both Beijing and Shanghai, while the non-Chinese academics invited to participate came from leading universities in Australia, Germany, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and now Canada, with Professor Harrington being the first Canada-based expert selected to participate.
A variety of legal issues were discussed, including China's engagement with the World Trade Organization, its approach to maritime and territory disputes, and the emerging space for discussions on corporate social responsibility, particularly in the textile and apparel industry. Contributing to the discussions on international and transnational criminal law, Professor Harrington presented on the issue of "Corruption and International Law: Challenges and Developments", with corruption being a timely topic given discussions in both China and Canada - and elsewhere - expressing concern about the potential misuse, or abuse, of public power or office for personal or private gain.
This was Professor Harrington's third visit to China, having taught a course on international dispute settlement in Shanghai in 2015 and having participated in the annual International Law Forum hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in 2012.