On March 4th, Prof. Paula Wojcikiewicz Almeida, director of the FGV Centre of Excellence on EU-Latin America Global Challenges, co-funded by the European Union and the FGV Centre for Global Law, welcomed Professor Mikael Rask Madsen for a lecture at the Rio CRIDS (Rio Course on Regional and International Dispute Settlement). 

Professor Madsen, Head of the Centre of Excellence for International Courts and Governance (iCourts) and Professor of European Law and Integration at the University of Copenhagen, delivered an insightful lecture titled “The Rise, Crisis and Resilience of International Courts”.

Professor Madsen’s lecture provided a historical overview of international courts, tracing their origins and the processes through which they construct both formal and de facto authority. He explored how these institutions have proliferated and expanded their geographical distribution. By examining the mechanisms of judicial authority, the lecture illuminated how international courts navigate the balance between their legal mandates and the political environments in which they operate. 

The presentation further addressed the contemporary challenges facing these bodies, specifically the phenomenon of state resistance and the “backlash” against international adjudication. Professor Madsen detailed the various ways states offer resistance, from political non-compliance to the active contesting of a court’s jurisdiction. He explained that while this pushback often signals a crisis, the resilience of international courts is found in their ability to adapt and maintain their de facto authority despite such friction. 

 The lecture concluded that the survival of these institutions depends on their capacity to manage this inherent tension between sovereign interests and the pursuit of a rule-based international order.

 The lecture sparked valuable discussion and offered fresh insights into the ongoing interdisciplinary debate on international courts. We extend our sincere gratitude to Professor Madsen for sharing his expertise and engaging with the Rio CRIDS community.

 We look forward to further collaboration.