Call for Papers – London Roundtable on National Security & International Business – May 19, 2025

On May 19, 2025, Washington and Lee University School of Law's Frances Lewis Law Center and the Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation will host the London Roundtable on National Security & International Business at 10 St. James's Square, London, SW1Y 4LE. The London Roundtable is the second of a three-part global series of events intended to foster learning and engagement between academics, practitioners, and policymakers on international business and economic statecraft. Each roundtable explores the central theme from a different regional perspective while building on the insights shared at the previous roundtables. The London Roundtable delves deeper into the topics explored at the DC Roundtable in September 2024 by exploring two distinct topics: economic security and human security. The format will remain the same and feature an academic lead presentation with commentaries from discussants in industry, practice or policymaking. All of the participants at the London Roundtable are expected to follow the Chatham House Rule.

We invite academic authors to submit abstracts for one or more of the following sessions:

Session on Economic Security: Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Public-private partnerships in critical industries, including public investment policies;
• AI and autonomous warfare;
• Foreign firm participation in critical industries and critical infrastructure;
• Trade policy and economic resiliency;
• Supply chain strategic planning (including onshoring, nearshoring and friendshoring);
• Corporate governance of geopolitical risks; and
• Mergers & acquisitions and national security review.

Session on Human Security: Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Business and economic development, both domestic and international;
• Migrant and refugee national policies and business responses;
• Links between migration, human rights, and economic development;
• Human rights & governance of technology;
• Sustainable business practices, especially concerning human rights and environmental protection; and
• Corporate responses to humanitarian crises.

Interested participants should submit a 500 to750-word abstract and CV to Kish Parella (parellak@wlu.edu) and Wendy Rice (ricew@wlu.edu) by January 31, 2025 with the subject line ‘London Roundtable Abstract.’ Academic presenters will be required to distribute a draft to their discussants no later than one month prior to the event.

Kish Parella is the Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and Law, Washington and Lee University School of Law.

Rupert Younger is Director, Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation, Oxford University.