Review Essay : Review Essay Symposium

Abstract

This symposium comprises an abridged transcript of an event held to mark the retirement of Professor Philip Allott from his chair at the University of Cambridge on 30 September 2004. On 28–29 May 2004, a small gathering of his colleagues from several universities and various disciplines attended the one and a half day event in Cambridge. The focus of the workshop was on Professor Allott’s work and the central theme, ‘this cannot be how the world was meant to be’. The event commenced with an outline by Professor Allott of his recent work and thoughts on the state of the world, summarized in his Seven Theses. Papers were then delivered by four leading jurists in international law, Professor Iain Scobbie (University of London), Professor Karen Knop (University of Toronto), Professor Martti Koskenniemi (University of Helsinki) and Professor Tom Franck (NYU). Dame Roslyn Higgins concluded the event with final remarks. Each of the speakers analysed and critiqued Philip’s work, particularly Eunomia (1990, 2nd ed., 2001) and The Health of Nations (2002). Much time was devoted during the workshop to discussion which followed each presentation. Extracts of this discussion, along with the papers delivered, are published in this symposium.