Editorial to the Special Issue “The Impact of Digitalization on International Law”

Abstract

The special issue analyzes the impact of digitalization on international law — focusing on structural changes. It asks whether such changes are observable in the various fields of international law and whether we can discern cross-cutting trends and developments. The special issue combines the in-depth analysis that the contributing authors provide for specific subject matters with the bird ’ s eye perspective offered in a synthesizing article by myself. The fields of international law covered in this special issue include international human rights law and institutions, use of force, the principles of non-intervention, state responsibility, enforcement jurisdiction, international trade and investment law, international criminal law, and international health law. I thank the contributors for their insightful articles and for engaging intensively with the topic of this special issue. Many of the contributors were part of the project since Maria Varaki and I prepared our initial workshop held in January 2021 — and I am especially grateful for their com-mitment to this project and their patience during the process of publication of this special issue. I also thank in particular Inge van Hulle and Russell Miller who have enriched the special issue with their editorial support and input. The special issue is structured as follows: