Are French citizens represented, and especially well represented, by France's " representatives " on the various bodies of international organizations of which France is a member, such as the World Health Organization ? Are they better represented in the event of competing participation by " global " cities (such as Paris), sub-national regional organizations (such as the French regions) or other non-state public institutions within these same organizations or, more generally, within procedures for adopting international law ? Does the " participation " of trade unions or non-governmental organizations, including so-called " affected people " organizations (such as certain peasant organizations), in the adoption of international law (e.g. labor, health or food law) compensate for this lack of representation, or, on the contrary, does it worsen the situation ? Can the participation of so-called " stakeholders " and other private-sector organizations such as multinational corporations and their foundations be considered as a form of international representation of civil society and articulated in this sense ? How can we curb the risks of private " capture " of international organizations and procedures for adopting international law ? In addition to the representation of peoples, should other (potential) subjects of law such as " nature ", other living organisms or " future generations " also be represented in the adoption of international treaties, and if so, how ? More generally, what is the meaning of the question of " representation " in international law and by its institutions, what is to be understood by " representation " and under what conditions can we speak of " good " international representation, including political and democratic ?
These and other questions will be the subject of Samantha Besson's inaugural lecture series this year, devoted to representation within the adoption procedures of international law. The questions of representativeness of our national institutions and, more generally, of good representation in and by law have long been hotly debated in political and legal theory, as have those of the relationship between participation and representation. However, in view of the internationalization of law and politics, it is important to deal with these issues at an international level and in international law, by understanding representation in all its legal and institutional continuity. The aim is to grasp the complexity of what might be a common concept of international representation in the light of the diversity of national conceptions and practices on the subject, and to elaborate, on this basis, a system of multiple international representation.
In particular, the lecture will address various issues relating to representation in and by international organizations, including the European Union, the United Nations, the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization, which will be examined in depth at this year's colloquium on democratic representation in and by international organizations.