Call for Papers: Austrian Review of International and European Law (ARIEL), Volume 31 (2026) on Peace and Security

The Austrian Review of International and European Law (ARIEL) is an annual peer-reviewed publication that provides a scholarly forum to discuss issues of public international law and European law, with particular emphasis on topics of special interest to Austria.

It focuses on theoretical as well as practical questions and current developments across all areas of public international and European law. Apart from a digest of Austrian practice in international law, encompassing pertinent judicial decisions and executive and parliamentary documents, each volume contains both longer analytical articles and shorter notes dealing with current developments.

The editors invite contributions for Volume 31 (2026), which will focus on questions surrounding 'peace and security' in international law.

The editors frame the theme against a specific backdrop: the world is once again witnessing the inability of the UN collective security system to function effectively, at a time of increasing unilateral action by states reacting to perceived threats to their security, including attempts to rationalise the extension of territorial control through 'security' discourse. Meanwhile, other states turn to regional organisations as the UN system fails to deliver.

Contributions might address topics such as:

• Theoretical and conceptual discussions on 'peace' and 'security' in international law
• The competences, relevance and contributions of regional organisations, such as the Council of Europe on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, or the African Union in the field of AI and Peace and Security
• Further instruments available under international law intersecting with peace and security, including unilateral or collective sanctions
• The (ab)use of arguments based on self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, or security exceptions in other treaties

The editors encourage contributions that critically analyse these topics, or others falling within the scope of the call, incorporating theoretical, comparative and interdisciplinary approaches.

Submissions will be examined on their academic relevance and undergo an independent double-blind peer-review process, conducted by scholars and practitioners of public international and European law.

• Analytical articles: 8,000 to 12,500 words, including footnotes
• Notes on current developments: 6,000 to 8,000 words, including footnotes

All contributions should conform to the 5th edition of the Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA), as well as the guidelines set out in the general information for authors of the ARIEL.

Note that this journal requires OSCOLA 5th edition, which differs from the 4th edition used by many Indian law reviews. The OSCOLA rules are linked below.

Submissions should include a confirmation of exclusive submission and be sent to the corresponding editor, Philipp Janig, at philipp.janig@univie.ac.at.

The deadline is 30 October 2026. Further information, including the general information for authors, is available on the ARIEL website linked below.