Max Lesch has been honored by the International Studies Association (ISA) for his paper “Law in Letters? Article 51 Reports on Self-Defense Against Non-State Actors and Change in the Prohibition on the Use of Force” in the International Law category. The paper analyzes a controversial interpretation of the right to self-defense: Western states, in particular, interpret the lack of objection as tacit consent to the extension of the right of self-defense against non-state actors in states that are “unable or unwilling” to take action against terrorist threats themselves. However, an increasing number of states are now contradicting this interpretation. Using a field-theoretic approach, Lesch shows how actors struggle for interpretive authority and maintain an organized ambiguity regarding the meaning of the right to self-defense.
Lesch also received an Honorable Mention for the book “Norm Disputes: The Link Between Contestation and Norm Robustness”, which he co-edited with Lisbeth Zimmermann, Nicole Deitelhoff, Antonio Arcudi, and Anton Peez. In the book, the authors use four recent case studies to examine how contestation over international norms affects their validity.
The International Studies Association is the oldest professional association in the field of international relations. Under the motto “Reconnecting International Studies”, the 66th annual conference was held in Chicago from March 2 to 5, 2025.
Max Lesch’s research in the International Institutions Program Area focuses on norm dynamics, the role of international law in world politics, and theories of international practice. Max Lesch has been a Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence since September 2024.