Date: Thursday 12- Friday 13 June 2025

History is never objective.

It speaks from a certain standpoint, and it shapes the way we think about the global futures. In recent years, the so-called ‘historical turn’ in international law has sparked new debates on the core-concepts in international law, reflecting on the politics and practices of history writing and its relationships to race, global capital, colonialism and imperialism. Feminist scholars have joined this turn, yet their reflections – feminist approaches to the history of international law – remain in its infancy.

In this colloquium, we delve into the intersection of critical feminist approaches to international law and international legal history, embracing gender and feminist perspectives as critical methodologies. We aim to transcend the simplistic equation of women's issues in international law with mere inclusion in legal discourses and canons. Instead, our focus lies on reimagining the relationship between international law, history, and gender in a way that avoids essentialist assumptions about women and gender. To do so, we explore how epistemological feminist, and queer approaches have evolved within and through the law itself. This perspective goes beyond examining how feminist movements or marginalized groups have utilized law as a political tool for empowerment or reform. Rather, we interrogate how international law and gender feminism function themselves as historical constructions, shaped by and shaping societal norms and power structures.

Our approach necessarily incorporates a critical examination of the roles of capitalism and colonialism in the development of international law and gender relations. We recognize that imperialist, white supremacist, capitalist and patriarchal systems have profoundly influenced legal frameworks and gender dynamics on a global scale, often reinforcing existing power imbalances and creating new ones. As such, this approach foregrounds the challenge of constructing an anti-colonial and anti-racist feminist approach to the history of international law. We aim to unveil the unbalanced power relations inherent in traditional legal historiography and problematize not only what counts as legal sources but also what constitutes a feminist historical record. By doing so, we seek to broaden the scope of international legal history and incorporate diverse voices and experiences that have been historically marginalized or silenced. Through this critical lens, we aim to contribute to a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of the history of international law, one that acknowledges the complex interplay of gender, power, and legal structures across time and cultures.

This colloquium will be held in a hybrid mode, both in person at the University of Warwick and online via Microsoft Teams.

The colloquium consists of a two-day event designed to foster interdisciplinary discussions and collaboration opportunities. Our aim is to create a space for meaningful conversations that could lead to exciting paper publications. As we are arranging publishing opportunities for 2026/2027, this colloquium offers an excellent chance for early involvement in this project.

We kindly request participants to submit an abbreviated version of their papers (approximately 5,000 words) at least one month before the workshop to allow time for review and circulation among attendees. To facilitate discussion and writing, we will provide a reading pack of key critical feminist and historical literature. We look forward to learning about your research and drawing inspiration from the collaborative community we aim to cultivate through this event!

We hope to cover travel and accommodation costs, particularly for Early Career Researchers (ECRs). A major part of this workshop and publication project is to establish a network of scholars and practitioners who might form a community interested in History, Gender, and International Law. If you want to join us, please subscribe to our mailing list.