Lex pacificatoria

The lex pacificatoria is a Latin neologism, which translates as 'pacific law' or the 'law of the peacemakers'; it refers to the law relating to agreements or treaties ending a state of war or establishing a permanent peace between belligerents, as articulated by state and non-state peacemakers, such as peace negotiators. ^[1] As such, it is a set of normativizing practices, the ‘industry standards’ of peacemakers. In its relationship with traditional legal doctrines such as the jus ad bellum , it is both incorporated in, and shapes, interpretations of binding legal instruments, and it can also be determinative of, or influence, court judgments. ^[2] The term was popularized by the legal scholar Christine Bell in her 2008 book On the Law of Peace: Peace Agreements and the Lex Pacificatoria. ^{[3] [4]} Bell contrasts the notion with the Law of War, stressing that the art of post-war peace deserves as much consideration as the waging of war, and the notion is related to the jus post bellum , the concept of justice after war, with which it has been critiqued. ^[5]

Other use of the term

Lex Pacificatoria is the name of a peace, justice, and human rights podcast hosted by Michael J. Campbell. ^[6] The first episode features an interview with Sean Carleton on Canadian residential school denialism. ^[7] The podcast won the 2025 Stories of peace award presented by the Canadian Peace Museum. ^{[8] [9]}

See also

• Christine Bell
• Jus post bellum
• Law of War
• Peace treaty

References

1. Fellmeth, Aaron X.; Horwitz, Maurice (2009), "Lex pacificatoria" , Guide to Latin in International Law, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195369380.001.0001, ISBN   978-0-19-536938-0 , retrieved 2020-04-13
2. Bell, Christine (2013). "Peace settlements and international law: from lex pacificatoria to jus post bellum" (PDF). Research Handbook on International Conflict and Security Law: 499–546. doi:10.4337/9781849808576.00020. ISBN   9781849808576.
3. Bell, Christine, 1967- (2008). On the law of peace peace agreements and the lex pacificatoria. Oxford University Press. OCLC   1131990137.
4. O'Donoghue, Aoife (2009). "On the Law of Peace: Peace Agreements and the Lex Pacificatoria". International Criminal Law Review. 9 (5): 867–871. doi:10.1163/156753609x12507729201552. ISSN   1567-536X.
5. Cryer, R. (2012). "Law and the jus post Bellum: Counseling caution". In May, Larry; Forcehimes, Andrew (eds.). Morality, jus post bellum, and international law. Cambridge University Press. pp. 223–249. ISBN   978-1-107-02402-1. OCLC   793947148.
6. "Lex Pacificatoria". Listen Notes. Retrieved 28 Jul 2025.
7. "Confronting Residential School Denialism". Apple Podcasts. Lex Pacificatoria. Retrieved 28 Jul 2025.
8. DeJong, Julia (2025-09-25). "What does peace mean to you? 3rd annual peace awards in Bancroft". My Bancroft Now. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
9. Drost, Chris (September 25, 2025). "Canadian Peace Museum celebrates its third annual Award Ceremony". Bancroft This Week. p. 12. Retrieved October 3, 2025.