The Permanent Exception: International Law and the Global War on Terror at 25

A symposium examining the enduring legal, political, and institutional consequences of the Global War on Terror-25 years after 9/11.
Event Details
Friday, January 29, 2027
Southwestern Law School Campus
3050 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles 90010
Hybrid Format (In-Person & Virtual Broadcast)
Call for Papers Key Dates
Now accepting submissions!
- Abstract and CV deadline August 15, 2026
- Notice of Accept September 15, 2026
- Final Papers due December 15, 2026
Submit an abstract (300-500 words), CV, and inquiries to: lawjournal@swlaw.edu
Funded Travel to Los Angeles
Up to eight selected authors will receive full funding for reasonable travel and accommodation expenses to participate in the symposium in Los Angeles, subject to final budget approval and timely submission of completed papers.
Publication Opportunity
Selected papers will be assigned expert commentators and published in a special symposium issue of the Southwestern Journal of International Law, subject to final editorial review and approval by the Journal's Editorial Board.
Who Should Submit?
We welcome submissions from scholars, practitioners, journalists, policymakers, and interdisciplinary researchers worldwide. Interdisciplinary, comparative, and practice-oriented work is especially encouraged.
Topics of Interest Include:
- Use of Force and Self-Defense
- Emergency Powers and the "Permanent Exception"
- Immigration and Borders
- Surveillance, Al and Securitization
- Administrative and Transnational Governance
- Comparative and Global Perspectives
- Rights, Identity and Dissent
- lslamophobia and Racialization
- Academic Freedom & Political Dissent
- Rethinking the Future of International Law
Presentation Format
Each selected author will present their paper at the symposium in Los Angeles. Each paper will be assigned a commentator to facilitate discussion and scholarly engagement. A limited number of participants who are unable to travel may be accommodated virtually at the discretion of the organizers.