Lex pacificatoria

The lex pacificatoria is a Latin neologism, which translates as 'pacific law' or the 'law of the peacemakers'; it refers to the law relating to agreements or treaties ending a state of war or establishing a permanent peace between belligerents, as articulated by state and non-state peacemakers, such as peace negotiators. As such, it is a set of normativizing practices, the ‘industry standards’ of peacemakers. In its relationship with traditional legal doctrines such as the jus ad bellum, it is both incorporated in, and shapes, interpretations of binding legal instruments, and it can also be determinative of, or influence, court judgments. The term was popularized by the legal scholar Christine Bell in her 2008 book On the Law of Peace: Peace Agreements and the Lex Pacificatoria. Bell contrasts the notion with the Law of War, stressing that the art of post-war peace deserves as much consideration as the waging of war, and the notion is related to the jus post bellum, the concept of justice after war, with which it has been critiqued.

Other use of the term

Lex Pacificatoria is the name of a peace, justice, and human rights podcast hosted by Michael J. Campbell. The podcast won the 2025 Stories of peace award presented by the Canadian Peace Museum.

The first episode features an interview with Sean Carleton on Canadian residential school denialism. Episode 2 features Jamie Bowman, an international legal consultant, who worked for development aid organizations, including USAID. Episode 3 features Zhanna Galeyeva, who distributed more than $7 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In 2025, the University of Western Ontario Academy for Advanced Research partnered with the podcast to promote their annual theme of "Exploring Possibilities for Peace in the Twenty-first Century" with an interview of Sabine Nölke, former ambassador of Canada to the Netherlands.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fellmeth, Aaron X.; Horwitz, Maurice (2009), "Lex pacificatoria", Guide to Latin in International Law, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195369380.001.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-536938-0, retrieved 2020-04-13
  2. ↑ Bell, Christine (2013). "Peace settlements and international law: from lex pacificatoria to jus post bellum" (PDF). Research Handbook on International Conflict and Security Law: 499–546. doi:10.4337/9781849808576.00020. ISBN 9781849808576.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  3. ↑ Bell, Christine, 1967- (2008). On the law of peace peace agreements and the lex pacificatoria. Oxford University Press. OCLC 1131990137.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ O'Donoghue, Aoife (2009). "On the Law of Peace: Peace Agreements and the Lex Pacificatoria". International Criminal Law Review. 9 (5): 867–871. doi:10.1163/156753609x12507729201552. ISSN 1567-536X.
  5. ↑ Cryer, R. (2012). "Law and the jus post Bellum: Counseling caution". In May, Larry; Forcehimes, Andrew (eds.). Morality, jus post bellum, and international law. Cambridge University Press. pp. 223–249. ISBN 978-1-107-02402-1. OCLC 793947148.
  6. ↑ "Lex Pacificatoria". IMDb. Retrieved 29 Aug 2026.
  7. ↑ "Lex Pacificatoria". Listen Notes. Retrieved 28 Jul 2025.
  8. ↑ DeJong, Julia (2025-09-25). "What does peace mean to you? 3rd annual peace awards in Bancroft". My Bancroft Now. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  9. ↑ Drost, Chris (September 25, 2025). "Canadian Peace Museum celebrates its third annual Award Ceremony". Bancroft This Week. p. 12. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Confronting Residential School Denialism". Apple Podcasts. Lex Pacificatoria. Retrieved 28 Jul 2025.
  11. ↑ "Jamie Bowman". LinkedIn. Retrieved 29 Aug 2026.
  12. ↑ "The Ethics of Foreign Aid with guest Jamie Bowman". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 29 Aug 2026.
  13. ↑ "Zhanna Galeyeva". LinkedIn. Retrieved 29 Aug 2026.
  14. ↑ "Should you donate to this Ukraine humanitarian nonprofit in 2026?". Charity Journal. Retrieved 29 Aug 2026.
  15. ↑ "She visited Ukraine to reconnect with her dad. Now she's deploying aid". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 Aug 2026.
  16. ↑ "Exploring Possibilities for Peace in the Twenty-first Century". Western University. Retrieved 29 Aug 2026.
  17. ↑ "Defending the International Legal Order: Lex Pacificatoria podcast episode with Sabine Nölke". Possibilities for Peace. Retrieved 29 Aug 2026.
  18. ↑ "Defending the International Legal Order with guest Sabine Nölke". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 29 Aug 2026.