Aus dem Institut

What happens when you're expected to follow rules that contradict each other? That question is at the center of a lecture by historian Hillard von Thiessen (University of Rostock), taking place on April 23 as part of the series Frankfurter Rechtshistorische Abendgespräche. His talk, titled ‚The Age of Ambiguity. Concurrence and Competition of Norms in Early Modern Europe‘, begins at 18:15 in Room Z01 at our institute. At the heart of Thiessen’s talk is the concept of Normenkonkurrenz - the overlapping and often clashing expectations from different sources of authority: religious teachings, legal rules, and social codes. In early modern Europe, these weren’t neatly aligned. Quite the opposite - they pulled people in different directions. According to Thiessen, this wasn’t just confusing. It shaped an entire way of life.  mehr

Der neue Band der Studien zur europäischen Rechtsgeschichte untersucht, wie sich zentrale Rechtsbegriffe wie Urteil, Jurisdiktion, Recht und Gerechtigkeit im Dialog zwischen Rechtswissenschaft und Moraltheologie herausbildeten. Am Beispiel des in Hispanoamerika geltenden Rechts („derecho indiano“) zeigt Orazio Condorelli, wie sich im Zusammenspiel weltlicher und kirchlicher Macht spezifische Formen rechtlicher Ordnung entwickelten. Im Mittelpunkt stehen die mittelalterlichen Wurzeln des „derecho canónico indiano“, die Machtverteilung zwischen Kirche und Krone sowie die Rolle gemischter Gerichtsbarkeiten. mehr

Submissions are now open for a workshop on the Mixed Courts of Egypt, to be held on 23–24 February 2026 at the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory. Organized by Dr Michel Erpelding and Aya Bejermi, the event invites reflection on an institution that stood at the crossroads of empire, international law, and everyday justice. Established through treaties between Egypt and 14 Western powers, the Mixed Courts operated for over seven decades with foreign judges and French-inspired legal codes. Their legacy stretches from Cairo to Strasbourg, and still prompts fresh questions today. mehr

Wie flexibel war das Konzil von Trient in der Praxis? Anna Clara Lehmann Martins zeigt in Band 23 der Global Perspectives on Legal History, dass das Tridentinum im Brasilien des 19. Jahrhunderts nicht nur ein rigides Regelwerk war, sondern eine formbare Ressource im Alltag der Verwaltung. Basierend auf Archiven des brasilianischen Staatsrats und der Konzilskongregation des Heiligen Stuhls beleuchtet sie, wie Kleriker, Bürokraten und Juristen die Normen an ein komplexes Regierungssystem anpassten. Die Arbeit entstand an der UFMG und Universität Münster und wurde im Rahmen der Max-Planck-Forschungsgruppe zur Regierung der Universalkirche nach dem Konzil von Trient erarbeitet. mehr

Submissions are open for the prestigious Max Planck-ASLH Dissertation Prize for European Legal History in a Global Perspective. Awarded by the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory (mpilhlt) in collaboration with the American Society for Legal History (ASLH), the prize honours outstanding dissertations that examine Europe’s legal past in its broader global context. This year’s prize will be awarded to a PhD or JSD recipient whose dissertation was completed in 2024 and advances the study of European legal history in a global framework. The recipient will spend three months at the mpilhlt in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, with full financial support, including a 2500 € monthly stipend, travel funding of up to 1500 €, and housing in an Institute apartment. mehr

Die Rechtsgeschichte des Britischen Empire steckt noch in den Anfängen – Band 25 der Global Perspectives on Legal History „Das Britische Empire in rechtsvergleichender Perspektive“ schließt einige dieser Lücken. Er beleuchtet Rechtstransfer und Rechtsgeographie in Australien, Kanada, den USA, der Karibik, Ostasien sowie Ost- und Südafrika. Ein zentraler Ansatz: Der Vergleich überwindet juristische und ahistorische Einseitigkeiten. Der Band zeigt, wie sich Gesetzgebungs- und Auslegungsmodelle über Kontinente hinweg anpassten – und wie Dekolonisierung neue Perspektiven auf rechtliche Entwicklungen eröffnet. mehr

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a unique legal experiment unfolded in Egypt, Syria/Lebanon, and Tangier. These regions, under semi-colonial control, established mixed courts—judicial bodies that blended local and foreign legal traditions to handle disputes involving foreigners. Aya Bejermi investigates how these courts operated as early forms of supranational law, influencing later international legal systems, including the foundations of European legal integration. Her study explores key questions: How did mixed court rulings evolve? How did lawyers and judges navigate competing legal traditions? And did this legal order leave a lasting imprint on modern supranational institutions? mehr

How were labour law enforcement ideas exchanged and adapted across borders? A new Call for Papers invites scholars to explore this question at a workshop organized by our researcher Johanna Wolf, John Howe (University of Melbourne), and Rebecca Zahn (University of Strathclyde). The event will take place at the University of Strathclyde on 11-12 September 2025 and will examine the historical development of dispute resolution and compliance mechanisms in labour law. The workshop aims to shed light on how enforcement ideas — ranging from arbitration and conciliation to trade union action and labour inspectorates — were shaped by international networks in the 19th and early 20th centuries. mehr

Wer definiert, was Antisemitismus ist, und mit welchen Konsequenzen? Mit dieser Frage befasst sich unsere Direktorin Marietta Auer in einem Beitrag für die Zeitschrift Merkur. In ihrer Rechtskolumne analysiert sie die aktuelle politische und juristische Debatte um den Begriff des Antisemitismus, insbesondere im Kontext der Resolution, die der Deutsche Bundestag am 7. November 2024 verabschiedet hat. Sie zeigt auf, dass die rechtliche Definition nicht nur eine Frage der Begriffsbestimmung ist, sondern tiefgehende Auswirkungen auf den gesellschaftlichen Diskurs, die Meinungsfreiheit und die politische Praxis hat. mehr

Das mpilhlt wurde zum zweiten Mal in Folge mit Gold für seinen Gleichstellungsplan ausgezeichnet. Die Evaluationskommission, bestehend aus Gleichstellungsbeauftragten der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft und anderer Forschungseinrichtungen, lobte insbesondere die regelmäßige und umfassende Datenerhebung des Instituts zur Überwachung der Gleichstellungssituation, die Geschlechterparität unter den Forschenden sowie die Fortschritte bei der Schließung des Gender Pay Gaps im wissenschaftsunterstützenden Bereich. mehr

Think colonialism only changed borders? Think again. Pioneering research reveals how British colonial rule didn't just impose foreign laws - it dismantled indigenous legal systems and marginalised women who once played central roles. Before 1890, Asante women in Ghana shaped the law and exercised authority in courts and communities alike. Through her work, Paulien Broens uncovers the overlooked power of pre-colonial Ghanaian women and reveals how colonial rule entrenched a legacy of gender inequality that continues to this day. In our interview, she talks about how colonial administrators ignored and erased female legal authority, the resilience of Asante women, and the ongoing fight for recognition in Ghana today. mehr

In his contribution to our blog Legal History Insights, Omer Aloni of Tel Aviv University explores the dynamic relationship between traditional and contemporary legal systems in Israel. His analysis, titled "Present Absentee: The Sulha as a Mechanism of Legal Pluralism in Israeli Law," delves into a pivotal Supreme Court case from the 1950s. This case highlights the Sulha, a customary Arab reconciliation process, as a cornerstone of legal pluralism. Aloni recounts how the Sulha was instrumental in resolving a manslaughter case, its emphasis on familial and communal harmony leading to a mitigated sentence and underscoring the integration of restorative justice within the legal framework. mehr

The position of Managing Director at the Institute rotates among the three Directors every three years. As of 2025, Stefan Vogenauer has assumed this role, succeeding Marietta Auer at the start of the year. The Managing Director oversees the Institute’s day-to-day operations, particularly its administrative functions. In his introductory message, Vogenauer extends his gratitude to Marietta Auer for her exemplary leadership and shares his plans to further advance the Institute’s mission through strategic initiatives and continued dedication to outstanding research. mehr

In her PhD Project Manuela Camargo de Assis investigates the often-overlooked role of architects in shaping international law. Traditionally, legal scholarship has focused on written texts and metaphorical references to architecture, but Camargo de Assis argues that architecture’s physical and visual dimensions can directly influence legal norms, authority, and power. Her work centers on a series of 20th- and 21st-century case studies of buildings designed to house international organizations. Drawing on legal history, architecture, and visual studies, this research highlights the interplay between the discursive and material facets of international law. mehr

The Max Planck Summer Academy for Legal History 2025 is now accepting applications. This annual program offers a unique opportunity for early-stage researchers, primarily PhD candidates, to deepen their understanding of legal history through traditional and modern approaches. This year’s theme, ‘The Struggle for Law‘, invites participants to explore the conflictual and transformative dimensions of law, inspired by the reflections of 19th-century legal scholar Rudolf von Jhering. Topics may include societal conflicts shaping lawmaking, individual struggles for rights, and legal systems’ adaptation to change. mehr