HiiL Research Programme

One of the principal substantive tasks of HiiL after its establishment was the drafting of a coherent and thought-provoking research programme which would cover most of the questions related to the internationalisation of national legal systems. In this regard six substantive sessions were held, two by a Preparatory Commission and four by an Editorial Commission. The two Commissions and thus the drafting of the HiiL Research Programme involved the participation of some sixty Dutch professors and experts from both the legal sciences and social and behavioural sciences. This composition was intimately linked to the firm conviction that the problem of the internationalisation of national law had to be approached both from the view of the legal sciences as well as from the point of view of the social and behavioural sciences. In particular questions of the rule of law, the coherency of law and the efficient and effective functioning of the national legal system in an internationalising society were identified as common denominators of different legal disciplines. Subsequently three main themes, which were to become the core of the HiiL Research Programme, were identified:

1. The unification and differences between and within national legal systems, 
2. The unity and coherence of the national legal system, and
3. The rule of law and accountability.

The actual drafting of the HiiL Research Programme was carried out by Prof. Ramses Wessel (University of Twente) and Dr. Marnix Croes (the Centre of Scientific Research and Documentation of the Dutch Ministry of Justice (WODC)) in close cooperation with the HiiL Executive Board and under the overall supervision of Prof. Michiel Scheltema (University of Utrecht and the later Chair of the Programmatic Steering Board).

Those who participated in the drafting of the HiiL Research Programme agreed that the document should be considered as a ‘living document’ which could be adapted in accordance with the needs of society and (inter)national developments.

After five years of research, HiiL decided to critically review its Research Programme. The revision process is carried out through as much as possible discussion with academia and practice. We therefore welcome your feedback on draft versions of the revised Programme.

A first draft of the revised Programme can be downloaded here.

Please send your comments to:
Dr. D. Raič
The Deputy Director of HiiL
david.raic@hiil.org