The research network "Public Contracts in Legal Globalization"

The object of the work: public contracts

Public contracts are right at the centre of legal globalization, a phenomenon that affects almost all parts of legal systems. These contracts often have to deal with extraneous elements (contracts executed by foreign firms, contracts executed abroad…), and the sphere of international public contracts is constantly spreading. Moreover, public contracts are very often subject to international rules (Community rules in Europe, rules deriving from other regional agreements, WTO rules…), and international organizations often establish guidelines on the matter for the states. These organizations also enter into contracts, which are subject to specific rules. Finally, influences between different national rules on public contracts are getting more and more important.

Therefore, the issue is of a great importance nowadays, and it is even at a key moment of its evolution. However, the realization that globalization phenomena also affect law is quite recent, despite that this ongoing movement is accelerating. Thus, it is urgent to work and research on this subject. Therefore, it was necessary to create an international network of researchers who work on “Public Contracts in Legal Globalization”.

The “PCLG”-Network

The network, headed by the chair “Mutations de l’Action Publique et du Droit Public” at Sciences Po Paris University, is composed of an international group of experts who work on the theme of public contracts. These experts are as well researchers as practitioners, Europeans and Non-Europeans, what makes it possible to work as well on a civil law as on a common law basis. The research can also be based on the theoretical model of the public contract that has been developed in single legal systems, for instance in France.

The network’s interest covers all legal aspects of public contract law. That implies that it works not only on public procurement law, but focuses on all public contracts (regulation contracts, contracts between public bodies…). The aim is to embrace all aspects of contractual life, and not only the procurement aspects. A large part of the research will be devoted to contractual litigation, and research will also be developed on the very question of the use of contract in public action.

The activities of the “PCLG”-Network

The network fosters collective research works and organizes symposia, meetings and seminars. Furthermore, the aim is to propose some training activity for students and young researchers.

So the network is a meeting point for researchers from different nationalities, but it aims also playing a part in the public and political debate on the theme of public contract law.