The Structure of Change in International Law or Is There a Hierarchy of Norms in International Law?

The essays published in these pages form part of an ongoing symposium. The Institut des Hautes Études Internationales and the European Journal of International Law convened a conference on ‘The Changing Structure of International Law Revisited’ in March 1997, bringing together a group of European and American scholars, to discuss the current state of international law in the light of changes that have occurred, both on doctrinal and practical levels, in recent decades. The symposium identified four areas of investigation: The state between fragmentation and globalization; Is there a hierarchy of norms in international law?; Is international law moving towards criminalization?; Where does the international community stand? Papers on the first theme, with an avant propos by Charles Leben, appeared in EJIL volume 8, number 3. The remaining parts will be published in the next two issues of the journal.