Today’s emergencies and wars
– a challenge to international law and constitutional frameworks
Jointly organised by: Uppsala University and the Swedish Defence University,
together with the IACL
Venue: Uppsala university main building, hall IX
May 4-5, 2026
Legal systems frequently regulate peacetime emergencies and wars in separate ways. Peace is often viewed as the normal situation, whereby war sorts under a separate legal framework with distinct differences in for instance mandates for use of force and delegations in levels for decision-making. This compartmentalised view on peace and war emphasises a need to define under what regulatory framework each crisis is to be handled. Although many states share the view that peace and war are regulated in different and distinct ways, they tend to differ when it comes to defining how peace-time emergencies and war respectively are regulated.
This round table aims to explore constitutional challenges emanating from hybrid warfare threats like influence operations, lawfare, sabotage and cyberattacks. Are there differences and similarities as to how states view, handle and regulate peace time emergencies and war in the current security environment?
Programme
Monday May 4th 2026
09:30 - 09:45 | Welcome and introduction |
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09:45 - 10:30 | Keynote speech |
10:30 - 11:00 | Coffee break |
11:00 - 13:00 | Panel 1 – The relationship between public and private actors in |
13:00 - 14:30 | Lunch for speakers |
14:30 - 16:30 | Panel 2 – New types of security threats as vectors for change in |
Dinner for invited guests at Norrlands nation
Tuesday May 5th, 2026
| 09:15 - 11:00 | Panel 3 – Junior scholars – New technology and rule of law in times of emergency and war. |
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In times of emergency and war, the rapid deployment of new technologies - such as artificial intelligence, surveillance systems, cyber operations, and autonomous weapons - poses significant challenges to the rule of law. While these technologies can enhance security, coordination, and decision-making processes, they also risk undermining legal norms, human rights, and accountability when used without adequate oversight. This workshop explores the complex interplay between technological innovation and legal frameworks in times of crisis, examining if, how and to what extent existing laws and constitutions adapt to these innovations. The workshop reflects on the challenges to find a balanced approach that safeguards democratic principles and international legal standards, even under exceptional circumstances, without compromising efficiency, and to find and promote mechanisms to ensure transparency, proportionality, and legal compliance in the use of new technologies during emergencies and armed conflicts. Co-chairs: Iris Nguyen Duy and Francesco Biagi | |
| 11.00-11:30 | Coffee break |
11.30-13.00 | Panel 4 - Rules or no rules? Possible concepts for a world order in the future |
13.00-13.30 | Keynote speech |
13.30-13.45 | Closing remarks |
14:00 - 15:00 | Lunch for speakers |
15.00-18.00 | EC Meeting Venue: Faculty room, Law Faculty, Trädgårdsgatan 1 |
Registration for the conference
We warmly welcome your registration for the conference. You can register here
Registration is binding and must be completed by 24 April 2026 at the latest.
Information about hotels and the conference venue
The conference will take place at the University Main Building (Biskopsgatan 3, 753 10 Uppsala). The University Main Building is best reached on foot or by bus. It is approximately a 10-15 minute walk from Uppsala Central Station. The nearest bus stops are Saluhallen, Kyrkogårdsgatan and Slottsbacken.
For those in need of accommodation, there are several hotels in the vicinity of the University Building. The closest ones are Akademihotellet (Övre Slottsgatan 5, 753 10 Uppsala), City Stay Hotel (Trädgårdsgatan 5A, 753 09 Uppsala) and Grand Hotell Hörnan (Bangårdsgatan 1, 753 20 Uppsala). Furthermore, there are several hotels in close proximity to Uppsala Central Station, including Elite Hotel Academia (Suttungs gränd 6, 753 19 Uppsala) and Radisson Blu Hotel (Stationsgatan 4, 753 40 Uppsala).
