Call for Submissions for the Max Planck UNYB

Concept Note

Special thematic forum on ‘Rethinking the notion of “territory” in international law’

Territory has long been a cornerstone of international law—defining the scope of core concepts like statehood, sovereignty, and jurisdiction. Yet, the classical idea of ‘territory’ as a stable, physical space is increasingly under strain due to contemporary global challenges.

These evolving dynamics challenge foundational doctrines of territorial acquisition and control, such as effective occupation, cession, accretion, uti possidetis juris, and sovereign integrity.

Today, these principles intersect with complex realities: climate change threatening statehood; non-state actors exercising de facto territorial control; contested maritime and land boundaries; extraterritorial jurisdiction; and the enduring legacies/challenges of decolonisation and self-determination.

In parallel, the prohibition on the use of force, the resilience of territorial integrity, and the role of international adjudication mechanisms in deciding territorial disputes are increasingly being tested by ongoing military conflicts and deeply contested geopolitical contexts.

Against this backdrop, an overarching question emerges: Does international law’s understanding of territory remain fit for purpose in responding to the complex realities of the twenty-first century, or does it require a significant rethinking to remain relevant?

About the Call for Submissions

To address this question, the UNYB issues a special call for papers inviting contributors to engage with a broad range of related themes.

Themes

• Examining the legality of territories under the control of non-state actors;
• Revisiting the principles of effective control and functional governance for extra-territorial jurisdictions;
• The right of self-determination and the colonial continuities of territorial control;
• The prohibition on the use of force under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and the tension with de facto annexations, and so-called ‘silent acquiescence’;
• Analysing the extent to which jus ad bellum norms shape the law of territory, particularly in relation to the (il)legality of territorial acquisition by force;
• Examining territorial disputes in the form of incidental proceedings before international courts and tribunals, and other dispute mechanisms;
• Understanding the contested role of territory and de facto control for belligerent occupation of areas;
• The role of territorial status in relation to the understanding of sovereignty and statehood;
• Historical analysis on the development of the international law of territory (for land, space and the oceans);
• Assessing the future of territorial integrity and state continuity in the face of climate change: does privileging land over sea territory remain valid under rising environmental pressures?

Eligibility

This thematic forum welcomes contributions that approach these questions from doctrinal, historical, theoretical, or interdisciplinary perspectives, shedding light on how territory—as a legal and political construct—should adapt to today’s rapidly shifting global landscape.

Submission Guidelines

We invite anyone interested in contributing to this edition to submit at first instance, an abstract proposal of no more than 500 words by 15 August.

Authors are encouraged to focus closely on a particular line of legal argumentation or a specific niche within this broader debate.

In your abstract submission, please include i) the working title; ii) the main arguments to be developed in the article; and, iii) a brief explanation on how the topic fits within the scope of the Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law.

Please submit your proposal in a Word document, along with a short bio (max 100 words) in the cover letter delivered by email to unyb@mpfpr.de.

The usual length of an article featured in the Yearbook is between 8,000 and 14,000 words, though for this thematic forum, we are also open to receiving proposals of opinion notes with a shorter word count as well.

Following a positive assessment of their abstract proposal, authors will be instructed to submit a full draft of their manuscript by 15 November, which will then be placed through our double-blind peer-review process for consideration of final publication.

In addition to featuring manuscripts pertaining to the thematic scope of this volume, we will also be featuring selected articles that fall within the overall editorial line of the Yearbook, on issues connected with the UN and its initiatives.

As such, we encourage authors to send in their proposals for consideration in accordance with the same deadline and requirements indicated above.

Important Dates

• Abstract submission: 15th August 2025
• Manuscript submission: 15th November 2025

Click here for the official notification.