An ANU College of Law research project that aims to reconceive states' engagement with the international legal order in the face of populism has secured nearly $620,000 in ARC funding.
Associate Professor Imogen Saunders
Associate Professor
LLB (Hons) BSc PhD
ANU College of Law, Bld 5, Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
ANU College of Law, 5 Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
Research Theme
Research Centre
Biography
Dr Imogen Saunders is a leading international law researcher. Her work has been published in field leading journals such as the American Journal of International Law, the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law and the Australian Yearbook of International Law. Her monograph on General Principles of Law as a source of international law (Article 38(1)(c) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice) is now out with Hart. Imogen is part of the three institution Backlashes Against International Law research collaberation. As well as the Backlash project, Imogen is currently working on projects on COVID-19 and international law and the history of women in international law.
Imogen completed her undergraduate degrees in law and science at the University of Western Australia, and was awarded her PhD from the Australian National University in 2013. She teaches international law and international trade law in the LLB/JD and LLM programs. She is currently the Director of the Centre for International and Public Law at the ANU College of Law.
Appointments
- Director, Centre for International and Public Law, ANU College of Law.
- Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, 2020
- Senior Lecturer, ANU College of Law, 2018
- Lecturer, ANU College of Law, 2013
- Associate Lecturer, ANU College of Law, 2012
Significant research publications
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‘Sarah Wambaugh – Life at the Frontiers of International Law’ in Tallgren, Immi (ed), Portraits of Women in International Law: New Names and Forgotten Faces? (Oxford University Press, under contract, forthcoming end of 2021)
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'The Pandemic Paradox in International Law' 114 (2020) American Journal of International Law 598 (with P Danchin, J Farrall and S Rana)
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‘Populism, backlash and the ongoing use of the World Trade Organisation dispute settlement system: State Responses to the Appellate Body crisis' (2020) Maryland Journal of International Law 172
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'Navigating the Backlash against Global Law and Institutions' (2020) 38 Australian Yearbook of International Law 33 (with P Danchin, J Farrall, J Ford, S Rana and D Verhoeven)
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‘Navigating the backlash: re-integrating WTO and public international law?' (2020) 38 Australian Yearbook of International Law 134
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'The Limits of the Natural State Doctrine: Rocks, islands and artificial intervention in a changing world' in Donald R. Rothwell and David Letts (eds), Law of the Sea in South East Asia: Environmental, Navigational and Security Challenges (Routledge, 2019)
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‘Artificial Islands and Territory in International Law’ (2019) 52 Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law 643
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Rothwell, Kaye, Akhtar-Khavari, Davis and Saunders, International Law: Case and Materials with Australian Perspectives (Cambridge University Press, 3rd ed 2018)
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'The South China Sea Award, Artificial Islands and Territory' (2017) 34 Australian Yearbook of International Law 31
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'General principles of law and a source-based approach to the regulation of international security institutions’ in Hitoshi Nasu and Kim Rubenstein (eds), Legal Perspectives on Security Institutions (Cambridge University Press, 2015)
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'International disaster relief law and Article 38(1)(c) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice: the forgotten source of international law' in David Caron, Michael Kelly and Anastasia Telesetky (eds), The International Law of Disaster Relief (Cambridge University Press, July 2014)
Recent news
16
Dec
2020
Philippa Weeks Scholar Georgie Juszczyk shares her most memorable ANU Law experiences and reflects on making family history with her double degree.
30
Mar
2020
Dr Imogen Saunders is a senior lecturer at ANU College of Law.
08
Mar
2020
Meet Inspiring Woman of ANU Law, Dr Imogen Saunders.
In the Media
25
Jul
2019
Imogen Saunders writes in The Interpreter
31
May
2018
Imogen Saunders interviewed by The Canberra Times
Past events
09
May
2023
12.00PM to 1.45PM Careers seminar
Join us in this careers panel featuring various international law experts sharing their career journeys and insights.
15
Jun
2021
5.30PM to 7.30PM Book launch
- Associate Professor Imogen Saunders
- Hon Justice James Edelman
- Professor Hilary Charlesworth
- Professor Anthea Roberts
Hosted by the ANU Centre for International and Public Law (CIPL), this symposium will serve to launch and discuss Associate Professor Imogen Saunders' book, General Principles as a Source of International Law: Article 38(1)(c) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice (Hart Publishing, 2021).
27
Oct
2020
6.00PM to 7.30PM 60th Anniversary Celebrations
This event will examine the contours and consequences COVID-19 had on the areas of patriotism, borders and equality and discuss how international law and legal institutions can navigate populist-driven threats.
19
Nov
2019
5.15PM to 6.30PM Book launch
The book Law of the Sea in South East Asia will be launched by Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN, Chief of Navy on 19 November 2019.
Research biography
Dr Imogen Saunders is an international law researcher with a strong international record of scholarship that addresses sources of international law, contemporary issues of international law (including the application of international law in new and emerging areas) and the history of international law. Her research draws on doctrinal analysis and archival work. She is currently working on projects on backlashes against international law, COVID-19 and international law and the history of women in international law.
Research projects & collaborations
- Navigating the Backlash against Global Law and Institutions - a collaberation between the Australian National University, the University of Maryland and Indiana University.
- COVID-19 and International Law - an ANU research collaberation.
Books & edited collections
- General Principles as a Source of International Law: Art 38(1)(c) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice (Hart, 2021)
- Rothwell, Kaye, Akhtar-Khavari, Davis and Saunders, International Law: Case and Materials with Australian Perspectives (Cambridge University Press, 3rd ed 2018)
Refereed journal articles
-
'The Pandemic Paradox in International Law' (2020) 114 American Journal of International Law 598 (with P Danchin, J Farrall & S Rana)
-
'Populism, Backlash and the Ongoing Use of the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement System: State Responses to the Appellate Body Crisis' (2020) 35 Maryland Journal of International Law 172
-
‘Navigating the backlash: re-integrating WTO and public international law?' (2020) 38 Australian Yearbook of International Law 134
-
'Navigating the Backlash against Global Law and Institutions' (2020) 38 Australian Yearbook of International Law 33 (with P Danchin, J Farrall, J Ford, S Rana and D Verhoeven)
-
‘Artificial Islands and Territory in International Law’ (2019) 52 Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law 643
-
'The South China Sea Award, Artificial Islands and Territory' (2017) 34 Australian Yearbook of International Law 31
Book chapters
- ‘Sarah Wambaugh – Life at the Frontiers of International Law’ in Tallgren, Immi (ed), Portraits of Women in International Law: New Names and Forgotten Faces? (Oxford University Press, under contract, forthcoming end of 2021)
- 'The Limits of the Natural State Doctrine: Rocks, islands and artificial intervention in a changing world' in Donald R. Rothwell and David Letts (eds), Law of the Sea in South East Asia: Environmental, Navigational and Security Challenges (Routledge, 2019)
- 'General principles of law and a source-based approach to the regulation of international security institutions’ in Hitoshi Nasu and Kim Rubenstein (eds), Legal Perspectives on Security Institutions (Cambridge University Press, 2015).
- 'International disaster relief law and Article 38(1)(c) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice: the forgotten source of international law' in David Caron, Michael Kelly and Anastasia Telesetky (eds), The International Law of Disaster Relief (Cambridge University Press, July 2014)
Conference papers & presentations
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'The Pandemic Paradox in International Law' (ANU Webinar with H Charlesworth, J Farrall and A Roberts, October 2020)
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‘Backlashes to the International Rules Based Order in Space’ delivered at Navigating the Backlash against Global Law and Institutions (ANU Global Research Partnerships Scheme Workshop between ANU, University of Indiana and the University of Maryland) Indiana University, 15 October 2019
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‘When is an island not an island? Territory in the South China Sea – Rocks, Islands and Artificial Islands’ ANU Centre for Military and Security Law Conference, The Law of the Sea in the Asia Pacific Region: Opportunities, Threats and Challenges, Canberra, August 2017
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'Territoriality and international law: Implications for the East China Sea' Inaugural joint Australian National University and Korean Association of the Law of the Sea workshop: Maritime delimitation, islands, security and dispute settlement: Korean and Australian perspectives on contemporary issues in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, Canberra, May 2016
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'General Principles of Law from 1875 to 1920 and beyond: tracing a legacy of war and peace through the development of the third source of international law.' Paper presented, Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law 22nd Conference: Towards International Peace through International Law, Canberra, July 2014
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'General Principles of Law and Disaster Risk Reduction: Applying Source Theory to International Disaster Relief Law' Paper written and Presented, Four Societies of International Law Conference, University of California, Berkeley, September 2012
Case notes & book reviews
- ‘[Book Review] General Principles of Law and International Due Process: Principles and Norms Applicable in Transnational Disputes' (2018) 36 Australian Yearbook of International Law 239
Other
- ‘Populism and pandemics: Backlashes against international law and COVID-19’ ANU College of Law International Law and COVID-19 series, 23 July 2020
- ‘Recalibrating international trade in the COVID-19 age’ ANU College of Law International Law and COVID-19 series, 29 April 2020
- ‘Does a US flag on the Moon amount to a claim of sovereignty under law?’ (with D Rothwell) The Interpreter, 25 July 2019
- ‘Australia and Indonesia trade: deal (not quite) done’ (with D Rothwell) The Interpreter, 14 March 2019.
- ‘The ‘Space Kingdom’ Asgardia has its own flag and anthem, but a state it is not’ The Conversation, 15 August 2018
- ‘Bogged Down in the South China Sea’ Policy Forum, 5 June 2018
- ‘Is TPP 2.0 good to go?’ (with D Rothwell) East Asia Forum, 3 December 2017
PhD supervision
Dr Imogen Saunders is available to supervise PhD students in the area of public international law.
Current courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 |
LAWS4264 Class #4101 |
Advanced International Law |
| 2023 |
LAWS2250 Class #5147 |
International Law |
| 2023 |
LAWS6250 Class #5432 |
International Law |
| 2023 |
LAWS4302 Class #7152 |
International Law Clinic |
| 2023 |
LAWS6302 Class #7153 |
International Law Clinic |
| 2023 |
LAWS8229 Class #4124 |
International Trade Law |
| 2023 |
LAWS4226 Class #4123 |
International Trade Law |
Previous courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
LAWS6302 Class #7222 |
International Law Clinic |
| 2021 |
LAWS2250 Class #5210 |
International Law |
| 2021 |
LAWS6250 Class #5545 |
International Law |
| 2021 |
LAWS4302 Class #7231 |
International Law Clinic |
| 2021 |
LAWS4226 Class #4280 |
International Trade Law |
| 2020 |
LAWS4010 Class #1418 |
Jessup Moot |
| 2021 |
LAWS8229 Class #3550 |
International Law of World Trade |
| 2019 |
LAWS8182 Class #1689 |
Principles of International Law |
| 2020 |
LAWS6010 Class #1426 |
Jessup Moot |
Past courses
- Convener, International Law (LLB/JD)
- Convener, International Law Clinic (LLB/JD)
- Convener, International Trade Law (LLB/JD)
- Convener, International Trade Law (LLM)
- Convener, Priniciples of International Law (LLM)
- Co-Convener, Property Law (LLB/JD)
- Faculty Adviser, Phillip C Jessup Moot Competition (LLB/JD)
How my works connects with public policy
I regularly publish commentary on international law and public policy. Recent publications include:
- ‘Populism and pandemics: Backlashes against international law and COVID-19’ ANU College of Law International Law and COVID-19 series, 23 July 2020
- ‘Recalibrating international trade in the COVID-19 age’ ANU College of Law International Law and COVID-19 series, 29 April 2020
- Does a US flag on the Moon amount to a claim of sovereignty under law? (The Interpreter, 2019) - with Professor Don Rothwell
- Australia and Indonesia trade: deal (not quite) done (The Interpreter, 2019) - with Professor Don Rothwell
- The ‘Space Kingdom’ Asgardia has its own flag and anthem, but a state it is not (The Conversation, 2018)
- Bogged down in the South China Sea (APPS Policy Forum, 2018)
- Is TPP 2.0 good to go? (East Asia Forum, 2017) - with Professor Don Rothwell
