Randall Lesaffer

Randall Lesaffer is a Professor of Legal History at KU Leuven and a part-time Professor at Tilburg University. He served as Campus Dean of Law and Criminology at KU Leuven (2023-2024) and Chairperson of the Department of Roman Law and Legal History (2018-2023). He is General Editor of The Cambridge History of International Law and Editor-in-Chief of multiple academic series.

• PhD in Law, KU Leuven (1998)
• Studied Law and History at Ghent and Leuven Universities

Randall Lesaffer's research focuses on the history of international law since 1500, with emphasis on legal history, laws of war, constitutional history, and diplomatic history. His work explores the evolution of international legal doctrines, peace treaties, and the influence of Roman law on modern international law. He has authored a textbook on European legal history and is currently writing a political history of international law during the Cold War's end.

His recent publications span the history of international law, analyzing topics such as aggression, reprisals, and peace-making from early modern to 20th-century contexts. These works reflect his interdisciplinary approach to legal history, bridging political, cultural, and doctrinal perspectives.

Scientific Awards:

• Sarton Medal for Intellectual History, Ghent University (2013)

Randall Lesaffer has held significant editorial roles, including Editor-in-Chief of the Studies in the History of International Law book series (since 2007) and Editor of the Journal of the History of International Law (since 2015). He has also led institutional initiatives like the Law Schools Global League and the 600th anniversary of KU Leuven's Faculty of Law.