The main subjects of public international law (PIL) are States and intergovernmental
organisations. In addition, some actors are commonly identified at the fringes of legal subjectivity
such as national liberation movements, the Holy See, governments in exile, and self-governing
territories. Furthermore it is increasingly acknowledged that a range of other actors interact with
PIL in various ways. The position of the individual is a ‘modern classic’ in this respect and another
actor increasingly visible to PIL is animals. Alongside, a state-centred image of PIL is proving
overly narrow to gain a proper understanding of the dynamics of PIL. The point of departure of the
book is that the concept of ‘actors’ is in constant development, and that current PIL discourse
needs to account for an ever-broadened range of entities. Understanding actors as socially constructed brings into focus entities, political arenas and institutional dynamics, that go beyond
a focus on the possession of rights and/or obligations.
The book contributes to a discussion on the pluralization of PIL by providing a comprehensive
insight into a range of actors that have the capacity to ‘move’ PIL, many of which have only started
to attract attention in PIL research. This call welcomes proposals for chapters that endorse a
broad concept of actors, exploring the capacity of an entity to possess agency, autonomy, and an
ability to influence. A non-exhaustive list of potential themes include: Agencies, Military actors,
Governments in exile, Indigenous peoples, Minorities, Autonomies, NGOs, Corporations, Cities,
Investors, Banks, Sports organizations, Criminal groups, Coalitions and social movements,
Networks, Courts / litigators, Tech / AI, Faith-based actors / networks, Vulnerable groups,
Refugees / migrants, Women, Animals, Mothers, Individuals, Nature, Children, Future
generations, Humankind, The Superrich / oligarchs, and more.
A range of chapters has already been secured, but there is still space to join in! Proposals should
preferably discuss a category of actors/entities in a generic sense and clearly state what the
relationship(s) to PIL consists of. Proposals of maximum 300 words should be sent at the latest
on the 15 March 2026 to: viljam.engstrom@abo.fi together with a short bio. Upon acceptance,
draft chapters of around 6000 words are due late autumn 2026. Don’t hesitate to be in touch for
more information!