Barry de Vries

Barry de Vries serves as Research Associate at the Chair of Public Law and International Law at Justus Liebig University Giessen since 2017 and Associate Fellow at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) in the Research Department International Institutions since 2018. His academic work bridges international legal theory with practical disarmament and non-proliferation challenges, focusing on institutional effectiveness and norm implementation.

Educational background:

• PhD Candidate, Oxford Brookes University (2016)
• Master of Laws in International and European Law, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2014-2015)
• Master of Science in International Crimes and Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2009-2011)
• Bachelor & Master of Laws, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2005-2010)

De Vries' research centers on the intersection of international criminal law, disarmament regimes, and emerging security challenges. His work critically examines national implementation of biological and chemical weapons conventions, treaty interpretation mechanisms, and accountability frameworks for new warfare technologies. Recent scholarship analyzes how international institutions navigate geopolitical tensions while maintaining normative authority, particularly regarding arms control verification and fact-finding in contested environments. His comparative legal analyses reveal persistent gaps between international obligations and domestic legislation, especially in harmonizing EU biological weapons legislation.

His 15 most recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on biological/chemical weapons governance (60%), international criminal law developments (25%), and emerging security challenges like autonomous weapons (15%). The body of work shows increasing engagement with current conflicts, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where he analyzes weapon allegations through legal frameworks. Methodologically, his scholarship combines treaty analysis with case studies of national implementation, revealing how geopolitical contexts shape compliance.

De Vries actively contributes to CBWNet (Chemical and Biological Weapons Network) and PRIF's International Institutions research group, developing policy-relevant working papers on biosafety governance and treaty implementation. His work with the Humanitarian Law of War Network of the Dutch Red Cross demonstrates commitment to practical application of legal scholarship. Current projects examine how fact-finding mechanisms interact with international criminal jurisdiction and the evolving legal landscape for emerging disruptive technologies in warfare.