At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and growing pressures in the maritime domain, the peaceful management of disputes has taken on renewed importance. Competing claims, strategic rivalry, resource interests and differing interpretations of international law increasingly test the ability of states to manage disagreements without escalation.
Moderated by Pascal Abb (PRIF), the panelists Jay Batongbacal (University of the Philippines), Thilo Marauhn (Justus Liebig University Giessen) and Moritz Brake (University of Bonn) will examine how international law, diplomacy and mechanisms for peaceful dispute settlement can contribute to stability, restraint and constructive engagement.
Drawing on contemporary maritime disputes and international adjudication and arbitration—including the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award—the discussion will explore the role and limitations of legal processes in clarifying rights and obligations, reducing uncertainty, creating space for diplomacy, and providing alternatives to coercion or confrontation.
The panel situates these issues within the broader challenge of upholding a rules-based international order and reaffirms the enduring relevance of international law in navigating today’s geopolitical tensions.
- When? Friday, October 16, 2026, 10:00 – 12:00h
- Where? PRIF, Darmstädter Landstraße 112, 60598 Frankfurt
To attend the event, please register on the website.
More information on the detailed program.