Western Europe Immigration Laws on Diversity in International Arbitration. A Historical Perspective on Africa and the Influence of English Law

International arbitration resolves cross border disputes which involve parties with different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds. As such, the diversity of the arbitral tribunal is important in the legitimacy of the arbitral process. Due to the confidentiality cornerstone of arbitration, there...

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Main Author: Thembi Pearl Madalane
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: STS Science Centre Ltd. 2023-11-01
Series:Journal on European History of Law
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Online Access:https://www.journaloneuropeanhistoryoflaw.eu/index.php/JEHL/article/view/183
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author Thembi Pearl Madalane
author_facet Thembi Pearl Madalane
author_sort Thembi Pearl Madalane
collection DOAJ
description International arbitration resolves cross border disputes which involve parties with different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds. As such, the diversity of the arbitral tribunal is important in the legitimacy of the arbitral process. Due to the confidentiality cornerstone of arbitration, there is no public data but statistics of appointed arbitrators by nationality, in the leading arbitration institutions. But the general accusation is no secret that international arbitration is a male, stale and pale field. This has also increasingly been criticized due to the lack of African representation. The discourse has circulated around bias and poor perception that is argued, isolated from European immigration laws. However, in backdrop of international disputes involving African parties and populist views opposed to African immigration in Europe, foreign arbitrators are still required to first obtain employment visas. So it is not irrational to expect a spill over in African lawyers‘ compliance with applicable immigration requirements as a possible inhibition to participation in Western Europe seated hearings. Even Britain, with a leading international arbitral centre in London is supposedly the most positive in Europe on the benefits of immigration. But it has been called out by British MPs for its UK visa system that damages Africa relations and also anecdotally reported as denting London’s international arbitration reputation, due to foreign lawyers‘ inability to obtain a visa to participate in hearings. Once a seemingly far-fetched thought, some emerging jurisdictions have introduced visa-free entry for participants in international arbitration to market as attractive dispute resolution centres. So, with increasing options that also facilitate diversity, the immigration laws may also be Western Europe’s Achilles heel in continuing to maintain its position as the sought-after international centre for dispute resolution service.
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spelling doaj-art-7c5e32ae9bb14f56be277ed5d55a116c2025-08-20T03:50:38ZdeuSTS Science Centre Ltd.Journal on European History of Law2042-64023049-90892023-11-01142Western Europe Immigration Laws on Diversity in International Arbitration. A Historical Perspective on Africa and the Influence of English LawThembi Pearl Madalane0University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary International arbitration resolves cross border disputes which involve parties with different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds. As such, the diversity of the arbitral tribunal is important in the legitimacy of the arbitral process. Due to the confidentiality cornerstone of arbitration, there is no public data but statistics of appointed arbitrators by nationality, in the leading arbitration institutions. But the general accusation is no secret that international arbitration is a male, stale and pale field. This has also increasingly been criticized due to the lack of African representation. The discourse has circulated around bias and poor perception that is argued, isolated from European immigration laws. However, in backdrop of international disputes involving African parties and populist views opposed to African immigration in Europe, foreign arbitrators are still required to first obtain employment visas. So it is not irrational to expect a spill over in African lawyers‘ compliance with applicable immigration requirements as a possible inhibition to participation in Western Europe seated hearings. Even Britain, with a leading international arbitral centre in London is supposedly the most positive in Europe on the benefits of immigration. But it has been called out by British MPs for its UK visa system that damages Africa relations and also anecdotally reported as denting London’s international arbitration reputation, due to foreign lawyers‘ inability to obtain a visa to participate in hearings. Once a seemingly far-fetched thought, some emerging jurisdictions have introduced visa-free entry for participants in international arbitration to market as attractive dispute resolution centres. So, with increasing options that also facilitate diversity, the immigration laws may also be Western Europe’s Achilles heel in continuing to maintain its position as the sought-after international centre for dispute resolution service. https://www.journaloneuropeanhistoryoflaw.eu/index.php/JEHL/article/view/183Immigration LawsInternational arbitrationEmployment visaEuropean UnionBritainAfrica
spellingShingle Thembi Pearl Madalane
Western Europe Immigration Laws on Diversity in International Arbitration. A Historical Perspective on Africa and the Influence of English Law
Journal on European History of Law
Immigration Laws
International arbitration
Employment visa
European Union
Britain
Africa
title Western Europe Immigration Laws on Diversity in International Arbitration. A Historical Perspective on Africa and the Influence of English Law
title_full Western Europe Immigration Laws on Diversity in International Arbitration. A Historical Perspective on Africa and the Influence of English Law
title_fullStr Western Europe Immigration Laws on Diversity in International Arbitration. A Historical Perspective on Africa and the Influence of English Law
title_full_unstemmed Western Europe Immigration Laws on Diversity in International Arbitration. A Historical Perspective on Africa and the Influence of English Law
title_short Western Europe Immigration Laws on Diversity in International Arbitration. A Historical Perspective on Africa and the Influence of English Law
title_sort western europe immigration laws on diversity in international arbitration a historical perspective on africa and the influence of english law
topic Immigration Laws
International arbitration
Employment visa
European Union
Britain
Africa
url https://www.journaloneuropeanhistoryoflaw.eu/index.php/JEHL/article/view/183
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