The Law of the Land: How to Create a New Country

How do you establish the supreme law and constitution of a country after it has emerged from transition, from arbitrary power or turmoil?  With the experiences of post-Communist Europe and the emergence from dictatorship of Iraq and Libya fresh in mind – we explore the challenges and opportunities of these processes - as complex and now as they were in 1215.  At this special discussion, Albie Sachs, who co-wrote the constitution of South Africa, is joined by the President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga and Jeremy Greenstock, former UK Special Envoy to Iraq. Chaired by Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean, Blavatnik School of Government.

• Atifete Jahjaga is the fourth President of Kosovo. She is the first female President of the Republic of Kosovo, the first non-partisan candidate, the first female head of state in the modern Balkans and the youngest to be elected to the office. Having studied law and international relations at the Universities of Pristina, Leicester and Virginia she became Deputy General Director of the Police of Kosovo from February 2009 until her election as President of the Republic in April 2011. She has played a key role in building wider international recognition for Kosovo.
• Justice Albie Sachs has played a prominent role in South Africa’s struggle for justice. An anti-apartheid activist, he was by the age of 21defending people charged under racist statutes and repressive security laws. Many faced the death sentence. He was imprisoned twice without trial and forced into exile for 23 years, during which time he survived the assassination attempt which cost him his right arm and the sight of one eye. Returning to South Africa following the release of Nelson Mandela, Sachs co-wrote the new constitution and was appointed by President Mandela as one of the first eleven judges to the new Constitutional Court, serving for 15 years.
• Sir Jeremy Greenstock had a long careerwith the British Diplomatic Service, serving as the Deputy Ambassador in Washington, as Director General for Eastern Europe and the Middle East and then the UK Ambassador to the United Nations in New York from 1998 to 2003. As the UK's Representative on the Security Council, he worked extensively on matters of peace and security in Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and South Asia, but particularly on Iraq where he went on to serve as the UK Special Envoy in 2003-04. He has had many commercial and NGO roles since then and is also Chair of the United Nations Association UK.

Professor Ngaire Woods is the inaugural Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University and Professor of Global Economic Governance. Prof. Woods is a recognized world authority on international relations, global economic governance, the challenges of globalization, and the role of international institutions.