Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Law and Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) recently held their second annual Foundations of International Thought Lecture, which continued the tradition of offering a critique of contemporary international legal developments.  

Held March 5, 2024, at GU-Q’s Humanitarium, the latest Foundations of International Thought Lecture featured Professor Timothy Meyer, the Richard Allen/Cravath Distinguished Professor Co-Director at the Center for International and Comparative Law at Duke University Law School.  Professor Meyer is also a Visiting Professor of Law at HBKU’s College of Law.  

Professor Meyer’s talk examined the rise of international economic conflict, in general, yet focused on a relatively new development, namely a home State’s use of taxation and regulatory powers beyond its borders to effect policy in another State for the benefit of the home State.  As he described, for many years, States taxed and exerted control over matters within their borders.  Today, however, States, such as the United States, or a collection of States, such as the European Union, recognize that consumption within their borders gives them leverage to condition the importation of goods and services to fulfill certain policy objectives, such as the promotion of human rights and environmental protection.  

After a stimulating lecture that put recent developments in a new perspective, comments were provided by Dr. Emmanouil Chatzikonstantinou, Assistant Professor of International Economics, GU-Q, and Dr. Georgios Dimitropoulos, Associate Professor of Law & Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Law.  The discussion by experts in economics, law and policy brought a necessary interdisciplinary approach to international economic conflict. The session concluded with questions and answers and additional audience contributions.