The Legal Research Society

Dr Natalia Alvarez will screen “ Views from the bridge ” on Tuesday 4th March from 11 to 12:30 in Taylor A37. Dr Alvarez explains that the film helps one to 'understand the problems that Kosovo might face in the near future. The portrayal it gives of the situation in Kosovo is quite different from that provided by newspapers and the media': VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE – the first documentary feature about post-war Kosovo. Confused with the earlier Balkan conflicts and overshadowed by Afghanistan and Iraq, Kosovo’s story may hold the most compelling lessons of all. Following the film, there will be a short discussion about the new status of Kosovo and the question of minority rights. This meeting is open to all law students, members of staff and research students interested in this topic.

Our colleague Derek Fincham , a co-founder of this Society, has already captured the imagination of the British media in interviews with BBC radio and BBC television . Now his blog has been quoted in one of the foremost US newspapers, The New York Times . This piece in The New York Times' 'Ideas and Trends' section addresses what Derek describes as the "Dr. No situation" in art thefts. Hearty congratulations are of course in order.

It is becoming increasingly likely that the major candidates in the United States general election will be Senator Obama (D) and Senator McCain (R). The two Senators appear to view the status of nations in fundamentally different ways. Senator McCain supports the establishment of a League of Democracies ( Derek analyses the proposal here ). McCain's proposal envisions a League of Democracies that will not replace the United Nations, but that could act without its approval. While the idealism of the suggestion cannot be questioned, a League of Democracies hints at the creation of first-class and second-class States, with the former class assuming authority that international law does not afford it to date. This is in contrast with Senator Obama’s much-debated suggestion that he would meet with foreign leaders whether they are friends or foes of the United States, and whether they are friends or foes of ‘freedom’. I may be reading too much into this, but the way I see it the...

Wednesday 20th February, 5pm - Taylor C28 Justin Borg Barthet, 'The Challenge of Online Gambling to European Socio-Economic Governance' Abstract: In Schindler the ECJ held that lotteries fall within the meaning of the freedom to provide services for the purposes of the EC Treaty, provided that Member States may derogate from the Treaty in order to protect public order and the interests of consumers. The judgment leaves much room for interpretation regarding the extent to which Member States may erect barriers to online gambling within the EC. In the absence of European legislation to clarify the limits of Member States’ powers, it is submitted that a lack of clarity gives rise to ample grounds for costly litigation. In addition, the law as it stands challenges the notion of shared sovereignty in the EC. Prescriptive jurisdiction is haphazardly distributed among the Member States, rather than being pooled supranationally. Moreover, the rules governing adjudicatory jurisdiction a...

This week’s Economist has an interesting leader in which it discusses the ability of the Democratic Primary frontrunner Barack Obama’s ability to deliver on his promising campaign and impressive surge in popularity. The leader, inter alia, asserts that a black president in the White House is likely to transform America’s image abroad – something that is desperately needed following the Bush tenure. Overall, the Economist notes, probably rightly so, that Obama has, thus far, not faced the same level of scrutiny as have his rivals, which has allowed him to rely on rhetoric and high expectations rather than political substance. Similarly, the economist notes that Obama’s voting record in the Senate is one of the most left leaning ones among Democrats. Although this is likely to appeal to most Europeans, as this would arguably place him firmly in the centre of the political scale over here, one should not get too carried away. It is evident that even a left leaning Democratic President is...

Rumours are fierce on the internet that Kosovo is set to declare its independence from Serbia this weekend. Whether Kosovo will formally announce its independence this weekend or not, it is evident that the partition is forthcoming. We have previously on the blog touched upon some of the implications of Kosovo’s independence here and here . The rumours follow announcements by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, vowing to protect Serbian minorities within Kosovo and statements from the Russian Foreign Ministry stating that any declaration of independence from Kosovo would be taken into account in regard to Russia’s relations towards the breakaway parts of Georgia aspiring to be independent themselves. Similarly, a number of European states are reluctant to recognise an independent Kosovo fearing that it will prove a rubberstamp to other regions in Europe seeking independence from nation states. However, it cannot be emphasised strongly enough that the will of the Kosovo Albania...

The LRS has the pleasure to announce that Judge Brand of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa will visit the University of Aberdeen on Friday 02 May. Judge Brand will deliver a talk on the subject of 'South African Contract Law and the Constitution' . Judge Brand holds a BA, an LL.B and an LL.M. from the University of Stellenbosch , and a Drs Juris from Leiden University . He was a practising advocate for fourteen years, before being appointed a Judge in 1992 and a Judge of appeal in 2001 (see here ). We are thankful to Prof David Carey Miller who made this event possible.