Call for Papers: 2025 ESIL IG History of International Law Article Prize, DEADLINE: 6 February 2026

The ESIL IG History of International Law invites its members to nominate an article that they believe has had or will have a major impact on the field of international legal history ( sensu stricto ).

Members may nominate any article on the history of international law published in any academic journal in 2023, 2024, or 2025 (the range is deliberately broad to avoid restricted access due to publisher embargoes). The prize winner will be invited to present the paper at an online ESIL event and participate in an interview with the IG Coordinating Committee, with the intention of publishing the interview in a peer-reviewed scientific venue. It is our intention to award this prize annually, with the following year’s award covering 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Nominations should adhere to the following rules (eligibility):

– While the IG does not wish to define the history of international law , we prefer articles that, in substance, deal with history and international law , for example, by relying on archival materials. Articles whose primary focus is present-day international law (theory or practice), with an incidental historical excursion, will not be eligible for the award. Articles whose primary focus is history, with an incidental account of international law, will also not be eligible. In case of doubt, members are welcome to nominate the article. The evaluation committee will make the final decision based on the abovementioned criteria.

– Self-nominations are not allowed.

– The official year of publication of the article needs to be 2023, 2024, or 2025.

– Only papers published in the Society’s official languages, English or French, are eligible.

– Nominations should be sent to esil.ighilprize@gmail.com by the 6th of February 2026 with the subject line following the format: [FirstName_SURNAME_Paper title], with the paper attached in PDF. Nominations that do not adhere to this format will be excluded from evaluation.