The workshop ‘Transformative Constitutionalism in Latin America and International Economic Law: Avoiding Conflict and Fostering Dialogue’ was held at FGV’s main office, in Rio de Janeiro, on August 28 and 29. The event was created through a partnership between the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law and the Master’s in Regulatory Law of FGV’s Rio de Janeiro Law School (Direito Rio), led by professor Sérgio Guerra. The event was promoted and organized by Direito Rio’s Jean Monnet Chair, coordinated by professor Paula Wojcikiewicz Almeida.

Covering different perspectives and approaches, the workshop examined the relationship between the instruments of International Economic Law and the possibility of building a Transformative Constitutionalism in Latin America. The event began with a presentation by professor Armin von Bogdandy, Director of the Max Planck Institute, who used the Ius Constitutionale Commune in Latin America (ICCLA) as a guiding concept – similarly to other presentations throughout the meeting. Next, there were four panels with Brazilian and foreign scholars.

The first panel addressed the theme of Transformative Constitutionalism in Latin America. Professor Flavia Piovesan, from Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC/SP), discussed the context, challenges, and prospects of the ICCLA; professor Oscar Vilhena Vieira, Dean of FGV’s Sao Paulo Law School (Direito SP), presented the study titled ‘Ambitious Constitutiona: prominent Courts;’ and professor Paula Wojcikiewicz Almeida pointed out the role of the International Courts in meeting the international community’s interests.

The second and third panels specifically addressed the relationship between International Economic Law and the ICCAL. Professor Diane Desierto (University of Hawaii) examined the relationship between the potential of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural rights and International Economic Law. Next, the following lecturers made their presentations: Franz Ebert (Max Planck Institute), who spoke in defense of the alignment of the conduct of international financial institutions with the Transformative Constitutionalism in Latin America, focusing on the World Bank; professor René Urueña (Universidad de los Andes), who associated the ICCLA with arbitration; professor Jose Manuel Zarate (Universidad Externado de Colombia), who linked the ICCLA to the national and international domains; and professor Cristián Delpiano, who introduced the peculiarity of Environmental Law to the debate.

The event also featured professor Christiana Ochoa (University of Indiana), who presented the role of Law in the context of conflicts involving natural resources; professor Fabio Morosini (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul), who addressed corporate social responsibility in Brazil’s new investment agreements; and scholar Pedro Villareal (Max Planck Institute), who used NAFTA as a parameter to discuss Constitutionalism and the protection of foreign investment in Mexico.

In addition, in search of innovative contributions to analyze the theme, scholars whose proposals were selected in the Call for Papers had the opportunity to present their research during the ‘Paper Presentation’ panel. The panels were composed by the authors, accompanied by the professors in charge of commenting on their papers.

“The event helped strengthen the partnership between Max Planck Institute of Heidelberg and Direito Rio’s Master’s in Regulation Law, besides opening up new opportunities for institutional academic cooperation. The presence of the institute’s director strengthens this potential,” said Professor Paula Wojcikiewicz Almeida, who organized the event along with her academic assistant Gabriela Hühne Porto.