Professor Yuval Shany’s recent lecture for the Legal Group of the British Friends of Hebrew University, “Is the International Rule of Law in an Existential Crisis?”, proved to be one of the standout events of our centennial year.
Drawing on his experience as Hersch Lauterpacht Chair in International Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and former Chair of the UN Human Rights Committee, Prof Shany offered a sweeping, unsparing assessment of the pressures currently bearing down on international legal institutions, norms, and enforcement mechanisms.
His argument was at times bleak: the rule‑based order many had come to take for granted is under unprecedented strain from great‑power rivalry, populist politics, technological disruption, and protracted conflicts that test the limits of existing legal frameworks. Yet it was precisely this candour and intellectual rigour that made the evening so riveting, as the audience followed his step‑by‑step analysis of where international law is faltering, where it is quietly adapting, and where it may yet be renewed.
Despite the gravity of the subject, the atmosphere in the room was fantastic. Generously hosted an Fladgate LLP in London and chaired with warmth and wit by Lord Pannick KC, the event drew a diverse crowd of legal practitioners, academics, students, and Friends of the Hebrew University eager to engage with big questions about law, power, and morality in the current global moment.
Prof Shany, Lord Pannick KC, Marc Sosnow
Prof Shany’s willingness to confront uncomfortable realities did not leave the audience despondent; instead, his nuanced reflections on accountability, institutional design, and the role of civil society sparked a dynamic Q&A that continued informally over refreshments long after the formal session ended. Guests left with a deeper appreciation of both the fragility and the enduring importance of the international rule of law—and with a renewed sense that Hebrew University scholars are at the forefront of some of the most urgent debates of our time.
The entire lecture and Q&A can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/AVi3gLjeFyA