Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Henri de Waele, I studied Dutch, international, and European law in Nijmegen and at the KU Leuven in Belgium. Since my graduation, I have always worked in academia, starting with a PhD, being appointed full professor at Radboud in 2013, and currently also holding a part-time position at the University of Antwerp. I also teach in external modules for e.g. the academy for government lawyers in The Hague. Students may inter alia encounter me in the introductory course on international law in the first year, and the Master's course on EU external relations law within the specialisation 'European Law and Global Affairs'. I have been enjoying the life of an academic for more than 22 years now, and feel that my job exactly matches with the talents I have been given.
Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
The relevance of European and international law is probably self-evident: many countries and individuals are affected by what goes on in these areas, and there are many new developments there practically every day. Global politics and the politics of the European Union cannot be understood properly without a solid knowledge of the legal foundations. Litigation and case law provide for exciting dynamics and special insight, and are perhaps underappreciated by the public-at-large, who may believe that lawyers only make life more complicated. The legal field is actually especially fascinating because it directly concerns real facts, real people, and very real opportunities for change.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
The first pillar of my research concerns EU institutional law in a broad sense, particularly the Union’s external relations, the design and functioning of the EU Court of Justice, as well as the effect of European norms in national legal orders, (instruments of) decision-making, democracy, and citizenship. The second one concerns the history of public international law, with a specific emphasis on the inter-war era (1919-1939), the League of Nations and the Permanent Court of International Justice.
What advice do you have for students making their study choice?
Do not worry too much about your job market perspectives - there are examples of students writing their final thesis on the law of the sea and ending up as a practising lawyer with a PhD in EU public procurement law. If you feel both EU and international law appeal to you, do not feel forced to drop the one or the other at a too early stage. Try to spend some time abroad, even if the curriculum makes that difficult - or pursue a subsequent degree after your first one. Do always look at the content, at what is actually on offer - sometimes you need not travel very far to find the best quality is right around the corner!
What is the best part of working with students?
Their curiosity and spectacular potential for personal growth - from knowing barely anything in the first year to becoming a fully-fledged expert at the end of their studies, even proving to be spectacularly helpful as student-assistants at my department in the meanwhile!