Ugo Mattei / Dmitry Medvedev
Plenary Session of the XIV SPILF
Primus inter pares? International Law – A Privilege of the «Firsts» or the Law of Equals?
International law, the once-unshakable guarantor of sovereign equality, is facing a total identity crisis. What was designed to balance global interests is being hijacked as a tool of hegemony. In the hands of a self-appointed "firsts", the law has been weaponized to legitimize political bullying, economic blackmail, and unilateral strikes that bypass the United Nations entirely. The very bedrock of our global order – sovereign equality – is under siege. Dialogue is being replaced by dictates, and genuine global pluralism is being traded for a "rules-based order" written by a narrow circle for everyone else to follow.
We are witnessing more than the erosion of norms; we are seeing a hostile takeover of the law’s moral core. A space intended for fair play has become a battlefield. Here, the "pre-eminent" few seek a permanent veto over the development of the "remainder." From neocolonialism and information warfare to the rise of "lawfare" and the reckless reach of extraterritorial laws, the fundamental jus cogens norms of the UN Charter are being twisted to serve those who believe they are "more equal" than others.
The colonial ghosts we thought were buried in history books have returned, wearing sophisticated new forms. Today’s neocolonialism is subtle but lethal. Direct military force has been replaced by invisible legal shackles: unilateral sanctions, predatory investment deals, rigged patent laws, and a stranglehold on global finance.
In this new reality, the fight for international law is a fight to ensure that the might of the powerful does not become the new "strength of the law." Can international law remain universal if it is applied only when convenient? Is the UN system, forged in the crucible of the post-WWII settlement, capable of defending modern sovereignty and preserving the equality of states? Will international law remain a "law of equals"– protecting the world’s vibrant diversity – or will it devolve into a "privilege of the first," a mere rubber stamp for global dominance?
In this context, Ugo Mattei will also briefly address TOLZUMO, the landmark initiative on political economy and international legal issues of interest within the BRICS+ area that brings together three key institutions:
Lanzhou University (LZU) — A leading Chinese research university with expertise in Central Asian and BRICS studies
International University College of Turin (IUC) — Our institution, bringing critical legal and economic perspectives
Private Law Research Centre (PLRC) — Under the President of the Russian Federation, named after S.S. Alexeev