[Roundtable] Beyond traditional arms control: Law, politics, and the future of restraint

For decades, a web of international agreements kept some of the world's most dangerous weapons under control. Today, that web is weakening, and experts warn the consequences could be severe. Join us for a timely conversation on the future of restraint in arms control law and governance. 

It is no secret that arms control is facing a number of challenges. Consider New START’s expiration, documented violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological Weapons Convention's verification gap, and fragmented restrictions on the arms trade. These facets point to similar fault lines: a multipolar environment that has outgrown Cold War logic, technology outrunning diplomacy, and a widening gap between formal legal commitments and political will. Yet restraint has not disappeared. Instead, it can be better understood when looking at arms control from a multi-normative perspective: corresponding (political) norms and (legal) rules, complementary formality and informality. This event asks what remains, what has changed, and what frameworks are adequate to the future of restraint. 

This event marks the culmination of the Special Chair in International Arms Control Law held by Prof. Dr Thilo Marauhn since 2021. The Special Chair of Arms Control Law was created in 2020 at the Faculty of Law of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and hosted by the Asser Institute, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Thilo is also Professor of Public Law and International Law at the Justus Liebig Universität Giessen and at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt in Germany. 

Bringing together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, this event will reflect on key insights gained throughout the Chair's mandate. As we celebrate the Chair’s concluding legacy, we invite you to be part of forward-looking dialogue on the future of ‘restraint’ in arms control law and governance. 

Speakers