Prof. (Dr.) Vesselin Popovski

Professor & Vice Dean and Executive Director, Centre for the Study of United Nations

M. A. (including B.A.), (Moscow State Institute of International Relations);

Post-Graduate Diploma European Law (King’s College London);

M.Sc. (London School of Economics, London);

Ph.D. King’s College London, M.Sc. London School of Economics

Biography

Before coming to India, between 2004 and 2014, Vesselin Popovski was Senior Academic Officer at the United Nations University in Tokyo. After 2007 he was Head of its Peace and Governance Programme, and after 2010 also Head of the UNU Press.

In 2002-2004 Popovski co-directed the European Union project ‘Legal Protection of Individual Rights in Russian Federation’, aimed at providing international legal know-how, training lawyers and human rights activists to apply the European and international human rights mechanisms, developing legal clinics and establishing new offices of the All-Russia Movement for Human Rights, equipping and capacitating them to protect the individual rights of citizens.

In 1999-2002 Assistant Professor at the University of Exeter and Co-Director of the Centre for European Studies. Undertaking research and teaching undergraduate and post-graduate courses on International Law, International Security, European Integration.

In 1996-1999 Doctoral Student at King’s College, London and simultaneously a Research Fellow at the NATO Academic Programme “Democratic Institutions”.

In 1988-1996 Bulgarian diplomat serving in Sofia, New York and London.

Publications

Books:

Articles in journals:

Single-authored book chapters

Memberships

Current memberships –

Senior Fellow Global Centre for Environmental Legal Studies, Elizabeth Haub School, Pace University New York (since 2020)
Expert Member Stimson Centre Working Group on Global Governance, Innovation and Renewal (since 2019)
Member Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan (since 2018)
Member World Commission on Environmental Law, International Union for Conservation of Nature (since 2016)
Advisory Board Journal ‘Polish Law Review’ (since 2014)
Advisory Board Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies (since 2014)
Editorial Board Journal ‘Asian International Studies Review’ (since 2012)
Expert Academic Council of United Nations System (since 2004)

Previous Memberships –

Visiting Professor UNU Institute for Advanced Studies, Tokyo, Japan (2014-2018)
Visiting Professor Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan (2014-2018)
Expert Writer Commission on Global Security, Justice and Governance (‘Albright-Gambari Commission’, 2014-2016)
Expert UN Office of Internal Oversight Services, Protection of Civilians Project (2013-2014)
Expert UN Working Group on Elimination of Discrimination of Leprosy-Affected People and their Families (2011-2016)
Editorial Board Springer Journal ‘Sustainability Science’ (2010-2016)
Member International Studies Association (2008-2017)
Member UN Staff-Management Committee (2007-2014)
Visiting Professor Aoyama Gakuin University (2006-2011)
Vice-President UNU Staff Council (2005-2014)
Visiting Professor Russian State University on Humanities, Moscow (2002-2004)
Visiting Professor Centre for the Study of Democracy, Westminster University (2001-2002)
Researcher/Writer International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (2000-2001) producing the report ‘Responsibility to Protect’
Expert Princeton Project on Universal Jurisdiction (2000-2001)
Visiting Professor Huron University (USA) (2000-2002)
Member International Political Science Association (1998-2004)
Member International Law Association (1996-2012)
Member British International Studies Association (1995-2003)

Research Interests

Summary

Over 20 books published – edited and authored;
Numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals;
Over 20 years teaching experience in 6 countries: Bulgaria, the UK, Russia, Japan, India, China;
Member of reputable international academic bodies, editorial boards of several distinguished academic journals;
Numerous invitations to top world forums: Davos World Economic Forum,
Ditchley Foundation Seminars, Aspen Ministers’ Forums, Wilton Park Conferences etc.
Contributed to the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty and its Report ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (2001), and the Princeton Project on Universal Jurisdiction, producing ‘The Princeton Principles of Universal Jurisdiction’ (2001).

Research achievements
Initiated, fund-raised and completed about thirty research projects, resulting in books, articles in peer reviewed academic journals, chapters in edited books, keynote speeches at academic conferences, participation at experts’ workshops.

Since 2015 assisted the Stimson Center, Washington DC, on several projects, starting with the Commission on Global Security, Justice and Governance, co-convened by the Stimson Center and the Hague Institute for Global Justice. Wrote one of the background papers – on innovating the Principal Organs of the UN – prior to the report of the Commission. As part of this work developed and proposed an innovative model (‘8+8+8’) for Security Council reform that impacted and provoked debates in many circles. Contributed to many policy dialogues convened by the Stimson Center, shaping a framework for Innovating and Renewal of the UN. Participated at the Washington DC meeting, the Seoul meeting on Climate Change co-organized with the Global Green Growth Institute in October 2019 and presented at the Doha Forum in December 2019 on peace and security cluster. Initiated another major innovative proposal to establish multiple Security Councils, including the upgrading of the Peacebuilding Commission into a Peacebuilding Council, and wrote the Policy Briefs “Towards Multiple Security Councils” (July 2020) and “New Agenda for Peace and New UN Organs” (September 2022) for the Stimson Center Global Issues series.

Between 2011 and 2015 was expert member of the UN Working Group on Eliminating the Discrimination of Leprosy-Affected People, resulting in a Plan of Action, adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in 2016.

In 2013-14 assisted the UN Office of Insight Overseas Services preparing a Set of Benchmarks to Assess the Peace Operations Role in Protection of Civilians.

His research has been acknowledged by world top scholars: Anne-Marie Slaughter, Richard Goldstone, Ed Luck and many others wrote endorsements for his books. His latest book ‘Fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (2021) has special introduction by the Deputy SG Amina Mohamed, and the ex-President of the General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinoza Garces. Popovski worked with many distinguished practitioners and scholars, who wrote chapters for his books: Luis Moreno-Ocampo, David Tolbert, David Crane, Richard Falk, Simon Chesterman (twice), Tom Farer, William Schabas (twice), Ramesh Thakur (three times), Tom Weiss, Jose Alvarez, Neta Crawford, Ned Lebow, Christine Chinkin, Ann Orford, Charles Sampford (four times), Anthony Lang, Jan Wouters (twice) etc.

Was part of two significant international projects: (1) Princeton Project on Universal Jurisdiction, together with top international scholars (Hans Corell, Stephen Schwebel, Richard Falk, Cherif M. Bassiouni, Anne-Marie Slaughter and others) co-authoring the ‘Princeton Principles on Universal Jurisdiction’ (2001), probably still the best guide how national judiciaries can utilize universal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute international crimes. (2) International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS) contributing to the Report ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (IDRC, 2001) which paved the way for the adoption of the concept R2P at the 2005 World Summit.

1 – International Law

His article ‘The International Criminal Court: A Necessary Step Towards Global Justice’ in Security Dialogue, Sage/PRIO, Vol. 31, No. 4, 1999) remains still relevant and cited today, 22 years later, with its main argument that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will be more successful not so much in bringing criminals from various parts of the world to the Hague, rather in the opposite direction – by spreading the standards of justice and due process from the Hague to various parts of the world. The standard-setting role of the ICC, that keeps the idea of global justice alive despite the lack of much progress in prosecuting and sentencing war criminals.

The book ‘International Criminal Accountability and the Rights of Children’ (Cambridge University Press 2006) was the first to examines how prosecutors and judges in international tribunals deal with crimes against children and crimes committed by children (child soldiers). Commended by Richard Goldstone and Olara Otunnu (UN Special Rep on Chidren in Armed Conflict at the time). As a result of the book Popovski was invited to write a legal brief for the defense team of Omar Khadr, an Afgani Canadian child soldier, captured in Afghanistan in 2001 and detained at that time at Guantanamo Bay.

Two co-edited books with Monica Serrano – ‘Human Rights Regimes in Americas’ (2010) and ‘After Oppression: Transitional Justice in Latin America and Eastern Europe’ (2012) resulted from a fruitful collaboration between the UNU and El Colegio, Mexico. The first presented the progress in developing respect and promotion of human rights in both North and South America, whereas the second book compared transitional justice processes in Latin America and Eastern Europe – with seven case studies from each region – demonstrating complexities and successes in reconciling the need to achieve stability for the future with the need to deliver justice for the past.

The co-edited with Richard Falk ‘Legality and Legitimacy in Global Affairs’ (Oxford University Press 2012) remains a best-seller a decade after its print, showing remarkably the connections and disconnections of the notions of legality and legitimacy, demonstrated with NATO 1999 intervention in Kosovo, but relevant also to various international regimes, including international criminal tribunals (Popovski chapter in the book). Endorsed by Anne-Marie Slaughter as ‘timely and thought provoking book’, containing ‘sophisticated analysis of how the very concept of legitimacy can both erode the strength of international law and enhance its enforcement’. Tom Farer named the book ‘among the excellent contemporary explorations of the space between law and legitimacy’, that ‘can fairly claim preeminence’.

The single-edited book ‘International Law and Professional Ethics’ (Ashgate 2014) explores the role of professional ethics in the evolution of the principle of rule of law and its modern institutionalization. Popovski wrote a chapter presenting the historical progress of the concept and argued that international rule of law is less statutory, recognizing the ascendancy of law above power internationally, and its applicability to the work of international institutions and international tribunals.

2- Peace and Security

The UNU Press best-selling book ‘World Religions and Norms of War’ (2009) co-edited with Greg Reichberg (PRIO) engaged in unique historical voyage over three millennia of years of evolution of norms, governing the justification of engaging in war (jus ad bellum) and conduct of war (jus in belli) in the main religious traditions. In the leading chapter of the book, Popovski argued persuasively that different religious beliefs do not produce wars, but could be manipulated by leaders to recruit soldiers to fight wars.

Research on Responsibility to Protect produced several publications: The book ‘Blood and Borders: Responsibility to Protect and Kin-States’ (2011) argued that kin-states should not exercise a direct protection of minorities abroad, but can co-operate in such protection with the neighboring states, or within regional organizations. The article ‘Responsibility to Protect and Prosecute’ in Global Community: Oxford Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence (2008) is still among the best, and often cited, exploring the relationship between R2P and the ICC. The article ‘The Concepts of Responsibility to Protect and Protection of Civilians: Sisters, but not Twins’ in Security Challenges (Vol. Issue 4, 2011) presented in a synthetic form the similarities and differences between two often confused concepts – Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and Protection of Civilians (POC). Ideas from this article soon after were developed into the book “Norms of Protection: Responsibility to Protect and Protection of Civilians” (2012) co-edited with Charles Sampford and Hugh Breakey.

The article ‘People’s Response to Boko Haram’s Attacks: A ‘Fourth Pillar’ of the Responsibility to Protect?’ in Africa Security Review, Vol. 24, No. 3, 2016, demonstrates on the example of Nigeria how affected people can engage directly in their own protection against Boko Haram’s atrocities, and offered an interesting suggestion whether we can discuss a ‘fourth pillar’ of R2P.

The book ‘The Security Council as Global Legislator’ (Routledge 2014) is the first to classify and analyze the more recent phenomenon of thematic (or legislative) resolutions of the UN Security Council, and its evolving role from being simply a global policeman into being a global legislator. Popovski critically examines the impact of such legislative activism and analyzes the history of the Council creating criminal tribunals as an illustration of how the legislative activism fundamentally challenge the international constitutionalism.

The book ‘Spoiler Groups and UN Peacekeeping’ (Routledge, 2015, IISS Adelphi series). provides recommendations as to how to end the institutional inadequacy of the UN to deal with spoilers in peacekeeping.

The article ‘De-Mythologizing Peacekeeping’ in Journal of International Peacekeeping, Vol. 19, No. 1-2, 2015, questions two almost axiomatic perceptions about peacekeeping – that it is ‘Chapter Six and a Half’ measure and that it must become ‘robust’; and offers fine deliberations as to how to re-interpret and avoid these conceptual confusions.

The co-edited book ‘Emotions in International Politics’ (Cambridge University Press 2016) fills an exponential gap in the study of International Relations addressing the connectedness of reason and passion, of thoughts and emotions. Popovski chapter “Emotions and International Law” demonstrates how emotions played a significant role in the progressive development of international law – sympathy for victims in IHL, but on another hand, how de-emotionalized judges need to be when taking decisions in courtrooms.

Co-edited with Aigul Kulnazarova, the comprehensive “Palgrave Handbook on Global Approached to Peace” (2019) presented unique approaches to peace from little known parts of the world and gained a significant academic interest.

3. Climate Change

An agenda-setting article ‘Defining Climate-Change Victims’ in Sustainability Science Journal (Springer, Vol. Issue 1, 2012), is the first ever attempt to present an entirely new type of victimhood, unknown in the past. It challenges the equation of climate change victims as ‘refugees’, and regards them not as victims from one-time-extreme-weather-events, rather as gradual multi-tiered victimization over many years.

The co-edited ‘Ethical Values and the Integrity of the Climate Change Regime’ (Ashgate 2015) investigates how ethical values impact the integrity, individual and institutional of the global climate regime. Popovski chapter ‘’Eco v. Ego: Non-Anthropocentric Ethic in Anthropocene Epoch” interrogates whether ethical values developed for an earlier world would prove helpful in the ‘Anthropocene’, a radically different era where the nature relies on humans to survive, whereas in the Holocene humans relied on the nature to survive. If in the Holocene humans acted with anthropocentric ethic, in the Anthropocene humans should act with eco-centrism as integrity building principle of a new ethical system.

Following from this, a major accomplishment was the single-edited book “The Implementation of the Paris Agreement of Climate Change” (Routledge 2018) which first signaled to major gaps and deficiencies in implementing the Paris Agreement, and appealed for filling these gaps.

Most recently, co-edited the book “Fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals” (Routledge 2021), the first book to address the impacts of Covid-19 on the implementation of all seventeen SDGs.

4 – Teaching achievements

Taught full courses (some intensively) in over ten universities in six countries – Bulgaria, the UK, Russia, Japan, India and China, highly evaluated by students, many of whom moved on to distinguished jobs, some in the UN system. Between 2004 and 2014 delivered occasional lectures at a dozen of Japanese universities. Also delivered occasional lectures at many Korean universities – Kyung Hee, Yonsei, Hankuk, and Chinese universities – Fudan, Tsinghua, CUPL.

At UNU (2014-2014) prepared documentation to accredit several new post-graduate programmes and designed courses for these programmes, introduced in 2010 for the first time in the history of the UNU. Led a project funded by the Ministry of Education of Japan, aimed to design a new PhD program for Osaka University on multicultural innovation ‘RESPECT’ (www.respect.osaka-u.ac.jp/en), successfully implemented. As PhD student at King’s College London, in 1998 initiated a proposal for a new joint MA in International Peace and Security, which still flourishes today: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/international-peace-and-security

Prepared students participating in moot courts, and many of them have been successful winners of top competitions, including the Jessup Moot.

Courses Taught

Law and Practice of the UN, International Criminal Law, International Relations

Prof. (Dr.) Vesselin Popovski

Prof. (Dr.) Vesselin Popovski

Campus Location

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