Zimmermann, Wim
Dr. Wim Zimmermann is a postdoctoral researcher in Public International Law at the University of Salzburg. He obtained his PhD from the University of Amsterdam under the supervision of Prof. Janne Nijman and Prof. Ingo Venzke with a dissertation titled ‘Beyond Indeterminacy: On Reputation and Interpretation in International Law’. A book proposal based on the PhD thesis is currently under review with Cambridge University Press. Wim holds three bachelor’s degrees (in sociology, human geography, and law, with extra courses in philosophy) and an LLM in public international law (cum laude, top 5%) from the University of Amsterdam. His research approaches international law from an interdisciplinary perspective, making use of insights from the fields of sociology, international relations, legal philosophy, (social) psychology and history.
Area(s) of expertise: Sociology of international law, International legal theory, critical legal theory, general public international law
My name is Wim Zimmermann, and I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Salzburg. Because my research interests lie at the intersections of international law and sociology, I have been wanting to come to Oñati for quite some time. I am glad that the opportunity finally presented itself for a wonderful research stay.
During my time here, I have been working primarily on a new project that addresses the role of government legal advisors in facilitating state violence. While legal advisors are often depicted as the "conscience" of governments, ready to stand up for international law in the face of blunt power politics, there are darker sides to their role that often remain shrouded in secrecy. Next to this, I have been working on my forthcoming monograph, provisionally titled “Beyond Indeterminacy: On Reputation and Interpretation in International Law”. It explores how actors present themselves to others through their engagements with international law, and what implications this has for the practice of international law. The institute has been an excellent, tranquil place to work on these topics.
