Joseph Weiler Steps Down as Editor in Chief of the European Journal of International Law
After 17 years, Joseph Weiler will step down as EJIL Editor in Chief after the publication of this issue (35(4)). As he wrote to the Board:
My decision to retire is not prompted by fatigue or loss of interest in the function of Co-Editor in Chief. Quite the contrary. It is hard work but I continue to enjoy it and want to believe that I am still effective in the role. But it has always been my belief that one should leave before those with whom you work are sick and tired of you (I hope this is the case) and before oneself is sick and tired of the role, so that one can look back with fondness and even miss one’s role.
Three special productions mark this momentous occasion in the life of the journal: an EJIL: Live!; a written record of a longer, more personal interview; and a special ‘The Last Page’.
Joseph Weiler created EJIL: Live!, the video series of the journal. In these videos, he interviewed authors of EJIL articles and other international lawyers about their work and careers. On the occasion of his stepping down, he takes the seat of the interviewee, and is interviewed about his role as EJIL Editor in Chief. Visit ejil.org to watch the 30-minute interview.
A written record of a longer, more personal interview is published in this issue. As Editor in Chief, Joseph Weiler published several editorials entitled ‘On My Way Out’, in which he shared his views on good academic practices. The piece ‘On My Way Out … For Real! A Conversation with Joseph H.H. Weiler on the Occasion of His Stepping Down as EJIL Editor in Chief’ is based on a discussion of several hours, covering his life as a son, student, scholar, teacher, practitioner, institution builder, father and grandfather.
And finally, this issue of EJIL includes a ‘poem’ on The Last Page that captures some of Joseph Weiler’s most notable aphorisms as expressed during hundreds of editorial meetings. The rubric ‘The Last Page’ was one of Joseph’s many innovations in the life of the journal. Reflective of his passion for literature and poetry, the rubric reminds international law scholars that there is more to life than international law. Most poems on The Last Page have been written by professional poets and occasionally by international lawyer poets. For the ‘poem’ in this issue, however, many who have worked with Joseph Weiler on EJIL contributed Weilerian aphorisms that they remembered from editorial meetings. On that basis, Anny Bremner and Sarah Nouwen composed ‘Thus Spoke JHH Weiler’ (available soon).
Changes in EJIL: Talk! Editors
EJIL: Talk! founder Dapo Akande steps down as blog editor after 16 years. The blog started in December 2008 with Dapo as ‘guest editor’. In fact, he was and has remained one of the blog’s central engines. He wrote dozens of blogposts over the years (including the famous ‘international law trivia’) and edited hundreds of submissions. He also attracted many exceptional international law talents as contributors and later co-editors of the blog, including current blog editors Marko Milanovic, Diane Desierto and Devika Hovell. Thank you, Dapo!
We are delighted that Nehal Bhuta has recently rejoined this team of EJIL: Talk! editors. Nehal was involved in EJIL: Talk!’s early years and has come back with new ideas and fresh energy.
Changes in the Book Review Editors
Anne Lagerwall and Doreen Lustig take over from Christian Tams and Gail Lythgoe as book review editors from 1 January 2025. We are grateful for all the energy that Christian and Gail have invested in the book review section and look forward to seeing Anne and Doreen’s plans develop!
New: EJIL: The Podcast! Editors
EJIL: The Podcast!, started by Dapo Akande, Marko Milanovic and Philippa Webb, has become an important EJIL platform. It therefore deserves its own editors. Like journal editors, the podcast editors work on producing rich and diverse content, with multiple voices. Megan Donaldson and Guy Fiti Sinclair have agreed to be the inaugural EJIL: The Podcast! editors.
Onwards!
EJIL is grateful to Joseph Weiler, Dapo Akande, Christian Tams and Gail Lythgoe for the enormous amounts of work they have put into making EJIL what it is today, and we look forward to seeing how Nehal Bhuta, Anne Lagerwall, Doreen Lustig, Megan Donaldson and Guy Fiti Sinclair will take EJIL in new directions.
