Call for Papers

2023 Taipei International Conference on Arbitration and Mediation

The Chinese Arbitration Association, Taipei (“CAA”) and the Asian Center for WTO & International Health Law and Policy, College of Law, National Taiwan University (“ACWH”) are to jointly host the “2023 Taipei International Conference on Arbitration and Mediation” in late October 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan.

Theme
The conference theme is “International Dispute Resolution and Development: The Technological and Economic Perspectives.” On the first day, the Conference will focus on the interaction between international dispute resolution and technology, including a session on international dispute resolution and emerging technology (e.g., artificial intelligence (“AI”), blockchain, etc.), a session on the technological application in international dispute resolution, and a session on the resolution of disputes related to technology. On the second day, the Conference will focus on the interaction between international dispute resolution and the global economy, including a session on investment dispute resolution and a session on the dispute resolution reform of the World Trade Organization (“WTO”).

Submission
Submissions of abstract (500 to 1000 words) on any of the following topics are welcome:

1. International Dispute Resolution and Technological Innovation:
How the laws, mechanisms, and/or users of international dispute resolution may accommodate or address technology-related disputes, developments, or risks?

In the past years, we have witnessed the explosive growth of various emerging technologies and their tremendous application in different areas of our daily lives. Emerging technologies have also profoundly impacted international dispute resolution. For instance, some arbitration institutions have started experimenting with applying artificial intelligence to arbitration, rendering automated arbitration possible. Some alternative dispute resolution platforms have also applied blockchain and smart contracts to online dispute resolution and attempted to achieve the so-called “decentralized justice.” Existing arbitration institutions have also started to apply various technologies, such as video meetings, electronic signatures, biometrics, cloud, data analytics, etc. While technological development in international dispute resolution creates the opportunity to enhance dispute resolution efficiency, it may also introduce unexpected risks to dispute resolution soundness. How the international dispute resolution laws should be designed to accommodate these technological risks is, thus, worth exploring.

On the other hand, as rapid technological development outpaces legal development, new forms of technology-related disputes, e.g., intellectual property disputes, electronic commerce disputes, biotechnology disputes, automobile disputes, crypto-asset disputes, etc., arise. These disputes pose challenges but also create opportunities for international dispute resolution. Therefore, how international dispute resolution mechanisms may address technology-related disputes and their potential limits are also worth discussing.

Suggested topics include:
1. Artificial intelligence and international dispute resolution laws;
2. Blockchain/Smart contract and international dispute resolution laws;
3. Other emerging technology and international dispute resolution laws;
4. International dispute resolution laws on the application of advanced technology in dispute resolution;
5. International dispute resolution and technology-related disputes;
6. Other topics related to technological innovation in international dispute resolution.

 

2. Global Economy and International Dispute Resolution:
How to (re)design and develop international dispute resolution mechanisms for disputes involving States (especially ISDS and WTO)?

In recent years, international dispute resolution has faced severe challenges in resolving international economic disputes. Investment dispute resolution, particularly investor-state dispute settlement (“ISDS”), has encountered an increasing wave of reservations when states conclude bilateral investment treaties or regional economic agreements. The World Trade Organization (“WTO”) 's dispute resolution mechanism, notably its Appellate Body, has also received strong criticism in recent years, and its reforms remain unsettled. In general, states appear to become more reluctant to subject themselves to international dispute resolution mechanisms.

On the other hand, in other fields, e.g., international monetary laws, advocates propose to introduce some international dispute resolution mechanisms to enhance the enforceability of the established international norms. As the world becomes more divided and international controversies between states continue to grow, how to design or develop international dispute resolution mechanisms to accommodate state-level disputes becomes more pressing than ever.

Suggested topics include:
1. The recent development of international investment dispute settlement laws;
2. The reflection and future of ISDS;
3. WTO’s dispute settlement reform;
4. The reflection and future of WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism;
5.Other topics related to the global economy and international dispute resolution.

 

3. Others
In addition to the above, other topics related to the recent development in international dispute resolution are welcome.

 

Review Process
The organizing committee will select abstracts and announce the results on July 31, 2023. Applicants whose abstracts pass the review process will be invited to present at the conference. Paper presenters are required to submit the complete and unpublished papers by September 30, 2023.

Paper presenters and submitters are also encouraged to submit their papers to the Contemporary Asia Arbitration Journal (CAAJ, an ESCI-indexed journal published by ACWH on a semiannual basis) for a peer-review process seeking possible publication.

Important Dates (based on Taipei time)
Abstracts submission deadline: July 10, 2023
Abstracts acceptance notification: July 31, 2023
Full paper submission deadline: September 30, 2023
Conference dates: October 24-25, 2023

Conference/Paper Language
All papers need to be written and presented in English.

Guidelines for Abstracts/Papers Submission
The prospective author is invited to submit your abstract submission and curriculum vitae in the format of a Word file or PDF file to wtocenter@ntu.edu.tw. The abstract submission must include the following information:
1. Paper Title;
2. Name, middle name, and surname of the author;
3. Affiliate institution and title;
4. Email address;
5. Abstract (500 to 1000 words);
6. Up to 10 keywords.

Authors are strongly encouraged to use bluebook citations for their abstract and full paper submissions.

Contact information
Sunny Guan Ye Li (Ms), Asian Center for WTO & International Health Law and Policy, College of Law, National Taiwan University
(Official website: http://www.ntu.law.acwh.tw/)
Tel: +886-2-33663366 ext. 55234
Fax: +886-2-33668965
Email: wtocenter@ntu.edu.tw

Kevin Hou (Mr.), Chinese Arbitration Association, Taipei
(Official Website: http://www.arbitration.org.tw/english/index.php)
Tel: +886-2-27078672 ext.36
Fax: +886-2-27078642
Email: kevin.hou@adr.org.tw