Overview

The seminar provides a contemporary, pioneering, and analytical perspective on global law by examining its actors, structures, tools, and mechanisms, covering East-West, North-South, and other geographical areas. The teacher adopts an interdisciplinary approach, aiming to offer a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the dynamics underlying the development of common legal rules. He explores the strategic and political interventions of public institutions and international organizations in shaping legal frameworks, while highlighting the role of spontaneous convergence and diffusion of best practices through private bargaining and thus the evolving interplay between formal and informal legal processes.

The teaching methodology is innovative and dynamic, with each class beginning or ending with a talk by a prominent figure from the academic, diplomatic, or professional world. These esteemed speakers will address specific topics of great relevance, providing opportunities for classroom debate on various issues related to the macro-theme of global law.

The seminar has been meticulously designed to foster professional development, with an objective to enrich fundamental knowledge by exploring the challenges humanity will face in the coming decades, including climate change, sustainability, and resource supply. Pedagogically, the seminar fosters critical observation skills of the global context and the proper interpretation of evolutionary trends through interaction between teacher and students.

The seminar offers a comprehensive overview of the driving sectors of the global economy and the subjects under discussion in the international political arena, thereby facilitating the establishment of a tangible parallel between university research and the world of work. This initiative aims to sensitize and empower younger generations, equipping them with the necessary tools to develop a professional and mature attitude, as well as to orient themselves in the pursuit of a transnational career.

The seminar is meticulously structured around an introductory meeting, four discussion meetings, and a concluding meeting.

The culmination of the seminar is not merely an evaluation; rather, it is a dynamic role-play exercise at the Europa Experience – David Sassoli, a pivotal component of the seminar and a mandatory component for the successful completion of the activity

Programme

1. Introduction: Global Law, Public Institutions and Private Actors: An overview of global law and its actors, structures and mechanisms, outlining its decentralized and multi-level nature and analyzing how global law can support international development and how international public institutions and the role of private actors can be rethought to be more effective in this context.
2. Global law between public and private: Analysis of the tools available to governments in various economic policy areas to promote cooperation between states and to induce private entities to put virtuous business strategies into practice.

   1. Global Law, Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and the European Union: The concept of ESG and its relationship with global law. Discuss the European Union's initiatives to promote ESG practices globally.

   2. Global Law and the World Trade Organization (WTO): The role of the WTO in the global legal landscape and its interactions with international trade law. Discussion of criticisms of the WTO and proposals for reform.

3. Supreme Courts in a Global Perspective: Review of the role of supreme courts in various countries in the global legal arena. Discuss the methodologies used to study supreme courts and their decisions in relation to global law.

   1. Global Law, ICC Jurisprudence and the Development of International Law: The role of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in the development of international law. Discuss the impact of ICC arbitration decisions on this area of law.

4. Global Justice and Transition Law and Policy: Analysis of the approach of key global actors to global justice and digital and environmental transitions. Discussion of the limits and potential of interstate policy alliances in these areas.

   1. Global Law, Global Values, and International Trade Law: Analysis of the relationship between global law, global values (such as human rights), and international trade law. Discussion of tensions and complementarities in this area.

   2. Global Law, Business and Human Rights: Analysis of the relationship between global law, business and human rights. Discussion of the responsibilities of business in relation to human rights and the mechanisms for ensuring compliance.

5. Global Law, Technology and Sustainability: The impact of technology on global legal issues such as cybersecurity, privacy, and Internet governance. Discussion of how global law can promote environmental sustainability.

   1. Digital Services Act and the EU as Global Internet Regulator: Examination of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) and its potential impact on global Internet regulation. Discussion on the challenges and opportunities presented by the DSA.

6. Conclusion: Summary of the seminar's key points and the importance of global law in regulating transnational issues in an increasingly interconnected world.

Final exam

The final exam will consist of a role-playing game organized at the European Parliament's Europa Experience - David Sassoli at Piazza Venezia 1 on Saturday, May 24th. Students will be divided into two shifts: 12:00 and 14:30

Teacher

Prof. Paolo Farah, PhD

Paolo Davide Farah is a Full Professor of Public Administration and Public Policy (with tenure) at West Virginia University, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, John D. Rockefeller IV School of Policy and Politics, having joined the faculty in 2014.  

He is Coordinator of the Eberly College Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative on Global Challenges and Local Responses Initiatives and Director of the Energy Justice and Just Transition Lab at Center for Resilient Communities (CRC). 

Professor Paolo Davide Farah is Founder, President and Director of gLAWcal – Global Law Initiatives for Sustainable Development. 

He was an International Consultant and Legal Advisor for projects implemented for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), for the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and Commerce and for the OECD. He has previously worked at the Legal Affairs Division of the World Trade Organization in Geneva and was an Associate Lawyer of Baker & McKenzie Law Firm, Milan, Italy.  

He is teaching and researching in law, public policy and public administration, democratic context of public administration, legal and political foundations, international law, climate change, international trade, business and human rights, social justice, sustainable development, energy and environmental law and policy. Professor Farah is an expert in the interaction among trade, economic globalization and non-trade concerns, such as sustainable development, energy, environment and human rights. 

https://publicadmin.wvu.edu/faculty-and-staff/public-administration-directory/paolo-d-farah-ph-d 

Email: paolofarah@yahoo.com 

Calendar

Exam

The final exam will consist of a role-playing game organized at the European Parliament's Europa Experience - David Sassoli at Piazza Venezia 1 on Saturday, May 24th. Students will be divided into two shifts: 12:00 and 14:30.