Originally from World Arbitration and Mediation Review

This panel will address the geopolitical issues surrounding energy disputes in Iran, Iraq, Russia, Syria, and Libya, and their implications for international arbitration.  Are Iraq, Syria, and Libya failed states?  If so, with whom does one negotiate?  Do these states have BITs that can be accessed today?  Is international arbitration a valid forum for resolving these disputes?  The panel will address concrete problems and real examples.  What are the implications for international arbitration of the sanctions regimes involving Iran and Russia?  Is the situation progressing or regressing?  The panel will discuss instances of political sanctions in international arbitration, including the Libyan Sun Oil case from the 1980s.