RÖLING: biography/bibliograpy
 

“...as a person, Röling outgrew any intellectual system he made...”
(Galtung, quoted by Cassese) 

The main information on Röling is to be found at the (Netherlands) National Archives (Nationaal Archief, The Hague), about 12 meters of material under # 2.21.271; see below) 

-          pre-Tokyo
Röling started as a criminologist. He focused inter alia on the criminological aspects of Shakespeare’s plays. His Ph.D thesis dealt with the legislation with regard to the so-called professional and habitual criminals (1933). That same year he set up, together with the great reformer Willem Pompe, Netherlands’ first criminological institute. During the German occupation he sat on the bench first in Utrecht, and later as a low-key judge in Middelburg, Zeeland. 

-          Tokyo
Röling’s stay in Tokyo 1946-1948 became a decisive experience. Just 40 years old, his two years as a Judge with the IMT influenced his thinking as well as his scholarly career in a significant manner. Yet, it did not represent a rupture with his past, it rather concerned logical steps, a to-be-expected development. 

-          post-Tokyo
Röling was appointed to a chair in criminology with Groningen University in 1948, to be followed by an appointment in 1950 to the international law chair as well. He gradually moved his main attention into the latter direction, - and beyond: in 1963 he founded the Polemological Institute (Institute for Peace Research) and realized that ‘law’ was an instrument rather than a goal in itself. Even more so, international law, in his views should have a global outlook rather than a national one. He also differed between conservative and progressive approaches, to some extent based on the UN Charter’s article 13, in which due reference is made to the progressive development of international law. Thirdly he stressed the need to distinguish between the imperialist and egalitarian outlook. Lastly, he preferred to look upon (international) law as only one factor among many others and not as a more or less independent factor: an integrationalist approach indeed.

Summing up, rather than an interpreter of positive law (lex lata), a lawyer should be a promotor of a multi-disciplinary approach as well as of lex ferenda (source: Cassese, op. cit. pp 137-138). 

-          Pugwash
The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is an international organization that brings together scholars and public figures to work towards reducing the danger of armed conflict and to seek solutions to global security threats. It was founded in 1957 by Joseph Rotblat and Bertrand Russell in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, following the release of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto in 1955.

In 1995, 50 years since the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and 40 years since the signing of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, the Pugwash Conferences and Józef Rotblat were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and, in the longer run, to eliminate such arms".

The Norwegian Nobel committee hoped that awarding the prize to Rotblat and Pugwash would "encourage world leaders to intensify their efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons".

In his acceptance speech, Rotblat quoted a key phrase from the Manifesto: "Remember your humanity".

Bert Röling attended his first Pugwash meeting, the Sixth Pugwash Conference, in Moscow in November 1960, and his final Pugwash meeting was the symposium on The Arms Race and International Law, held in Helsinki in February 1983. In between, he participated in eleven other Pugwash conferences, workshops and symposia, for a total of 13. All the relevant Pugwash material was kept at the Polemological Institute, Groningen University. Scholarly research into the Dutch involvement in Pugwash should be welcomed. 

A biography and an overview of Röling’s many publications can be found in Akkerman et al (ed.) Declaration on Principles, a Quest for Universal Peace, Leyden 1977, on respectively pp. XVIII-LXVIII, (a humanist for peace, by Paul Teunissen) and  pp. 383-403 (prepared by Teunissen and Doeleman).

Also, mention should be made of Verwey’s excellent biography published in 1985 by the Asser Institute: W.D. Verwey, Bert V.A. Röling 1906-1985 (biografie-serie van prominente Nederlandse internationaal recht-juristen), Den Haag: T.M.C. Asser Instituut 1985. 

In order to get an insight into Röling’s way of thinking and reasoning,  
The Tokyo Trial and Beyond: Reflections of a Peacemonger
by B.V.A. Röling, Antonio Cassese (Editor) (1995) ISBN 0-7456-1485-X is indispensable.


on IMT TOKYO:
- Opinion of Mr. Justice Röling, member for the Netherlands. 12 November 1948 ASIN: B0007JY25I,

- Röling, B.V.A. and C.F. Ruter, eds. The Tokyo Judgment: The International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Amsterdam: University Press, 1977. 

on PEACE RESEARCH AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
- International Law in an Expanded World, Amsterdam 1960 (en         August 6, 1946.                                                          eye-opener – still – for a globalizing world)
        Justice Bernard V. A. Röling (Netherlands)
 
- Over Oorlog en Vrede Amsterdam 1963 (made a huge impact on Dutch thinking, - and beyond)
- Inleiding tot de Wetenschap van Oorlog en Vrede Assen 1968
- Volkenrecht en vrede Deventer 1973 (a unique treatise that deserves to be updated [e.g. by Nico Schrijver, Röling’s formost pupil who helped him updating the 2^nd edition] and to be translated into the English)
- Vredeswetenschap: Inleiding tot de polemologie (Utrecht, Aula-boeken), 1981
- Wapenbeheersing en ontwapening 1984

See also:
- Van den Burg et al: Vrede en oorlog: Nieuwe ontwikkelingen in de polemologie : [opstellen voor prof. mr. B. V. A. Röling] (Synopsis), 1977

- Akkerman, van Krieken and Pannenborg, Declaration on Principles, a  Quest for Universal Peace (Liber Amicorum Disciplinorumque), Leyden 1977 [the preface has been included hereinabove]

- W.D. Verwey, Bert V.A. Röling 1906-1985 (biografie-serie van prominente Nederlandse internationaal recht-juristen), Den Haag: T.M.C. Asser Instituut 1985

- Dekker & Schrijver, Röling in 8 Kritisch Denkerslexicon, October 1989.







 

                                        The Tokyo IMT Judges

PROMOVENDI

LIST OF THOSE WHO PREPARED AND DEFENDED THEIR PH.D. (Dr. Jur) UNDER RÖLING:

1950-1975: to follow
20 December 1976 Van Krieken
14 September 1978 Pannenborg
24 January 1980 Myjer
24 April 1980 Meuffels

SERIE POLEMOLOGISCHE STUDIËN

This series of (mainly) monographies on peace research and related topics has Röling as its editor-in-chief. He personally oversaw to its high standards.

The series, over a period of some 15 years (1962-1977), carries almost 20 titles, under which:

(1) Berg et al., De oorlog in het licht der wetenschappen
(2) Boasson,  Approaches to the study of international relations
(3) Baerends et al., De oorlog in het licht der wetenschappen (2)
(4) Delfgaauw et al., Aspecten van de koude oorlog
(5) Röling et al., Opstand en revolutie
(6) Duisenberg, Economische gevolgen van ontwapening (the economic consequences of disarmament)
          [this is the same W.F. Duisenberg who later became the first president of the European Central Bank]
(8) Röling, Polemologie: Inleiding tot de wetenschap van oorlog en vrede
(9) Lafeber, Nieuw Guinea en de Volkskrant
(12) van den Doel, Konvergentie en evolutie
(13) Spits, De metamorfose van de oorlog in de 18^e en 19^e eeuw
(14) Alting von Geusau, Denken over wereldvrede
(15) Tromp et al., Kritische Polemologie
(16) Verwey Economic development, peace and international law
(17) van Krieken, Deserteurs, dienstweigeraars en asielrecht (deserters, conscientious objectors and the law on asylum)
(18) Jochheim, Antimilitaristische Aktionstheorie, soziale Revolution und soziale Verteidigung

Röling bibliography Based on the Peace Palace Library Catalogue:

1. Tokyo; saiban to sonogo : aru heiwaka no kaisō Röling, B.V.A. / Chuokoron-Shinsha / 2009

2. The Nuremberg and the Tokyo Trials in Retrospect Röling, Bert V.A. / Oxford University Press / In: Perspectives on the Nuremberg Trial / ed. by Guénaël Mettraux, ISBN 9780199232338 / 2008

3. Tokysky; proces Röling, B.V.A. / Mladá Fronta / 1995

4. The Tokyo Trial and beyond : reflections of a peacemonger Röling, B.V.A. / Polity Press / 1993

5. Are Grotius' Ideas Obsolete in an Expanded World? Röling, B.V.A. / Clarendon / In: Hugo Grotius and International Relations / ed. by Hedley Bull, Benedict Kingsbury, Adam Roberts, ISBN 0198255691 / 1990

6. Bert V. A. Röling : (1906-1985) Verwey, W.D. / T.M.C. Asser Instituut / 1985

7. Katyn : de ontrafeling van een massamoord Nater, Johan P. / 1e dr / Donker / 1985

8. Volkenrecht en vrede Röling, B.V.A. / 3e, herz. dr / Kluwer / 1985

9. Jus ad bellum and the Grotian Heritage Röling, B.V.A. / T.M.C Asser Instituut / In: International Law and the Grotian Heritage : a Commemorative Colloquium held at The Hague on 8 April 1983 on the Occasion of the fourth Centenary of the Birth of Hugo Grotius : organized by the Interuniversitair Instituut voor Internationaal Recht T.M.C. Asser Instituut in co-operation with the Grotiana Foundation / ed. and publ. by the T.M.C. Asser Instituut, ISBN 9067040371 / 1985

10. Wapenbeheersing en ontwapening Röling, Bert V.A. / De Nederlanden / 1984

11. De problematiek van nationale wapenmacht Röling, B.V.A. / In: In:ADVOCATENBLAD; vol. 64, pag. 202-216 / 1984

12. Commemorative colloquium on international law and the Grotian heritage on the occasion of the fourth centenary of the birth of Hugo Grotius, 8 April 1983, The Hague, The Netherlands : advance papers [not final version] Jiménez de Aréchaga, E. / Interuniversitair Instituut voor Internationaal Recht T.M.C. Asser Instituut / 1983

13. On the prohibition of the use of force Röling, B.V.A. / In: Legal change : essays in honour of Julius Stone / 1983

14. Wetenschap en vrede : antwoorden op de vraag welke bijdrage verschillende wetenschappelijke disciplines kunnen leveren aan ontwapening Röling, Bert / Studiecentrum voor Vredesvraagstukken / 1982

15. Volkenrecht en vrede Röling, B.V.A. / 2e, herziene dr / Kluwer / 1982

16. Vredeswetenschap : inleiding tot de polemologie Röling, B.V.A. / 1e dr / Het Spectrum / 1981

17. Aspects of the case concerning United States diplomatic and consular staff in Tehran Röling, B.V.A.
/ In: Netherlands yearbook of international law; vol. 11, pag. 125-153 / 1980

18. The United Nations : a general evaluation Röling, B.V.A. / In: U.N. law/fundamental rights : two topics in international law / 1979

19. Feasibility of inoffensive deterrence Röling, B.V.A. / In: Bulletin of peace proposals; vol. 4, pag. 339-347 / 1978

20. The Tokyo judgment : the international military tribunal for the Far East (I.M.T.F.E), 29 april 1946-12 november 1948 ; Vol. 2: Judgement of the member from India. Opinion of the member from the Netherlands Röling, B.V.A. / APA-University Press Amsterdam / 1977

21. The Tokyo judgment : the international military tribunal for the Far East (I.M.T.F.E), 29 april 1946-12 november 1948 ; Vol. 1: Introduction. Judgement of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Separate opinion of the president. Dissenting opinion of the member from France. Concurring opinion of the member from the Republic of the Philippines Röling, B.V.A. / APA-University Press Amsterdam / 1977

22. The Tokyo judgment : the international military tribunal for the Far East (I.M.T.F.E), 29 april 1946-12 november 1948 Röling, B.V.A. / APA-University Press Amsterdam / 1977

23. Declarations on principles : a quest for universal peace Akkerman, Robert J. / Sijthoff / 1977

24. Vrede en oorlog : nieuwe ontwikkelingen in de polemologie Burg, Fenna van den / De Arbeiderspers / 1977

25. Aspects of the ban on force Röling, B.V.A. / In: Netherlands international law review; vol. 24, pag. 242-259 / 1977

26. Armoede en oorlogsprobleem Röling, B.V.A. / Interkerkelijk Vredesberaad (IKV) / 1976

27. Europese veiligheid : rapport inzake Europese veiligheid Röling, B.V.A. / Staatsuitgeverij / 1976

28. The law of war and dubious weapons Röling, Bert V.A. / Almqvist and Wiksell International / 1976

29. Rapport inzake Europese veiligheid : advies uitgebracht door de Adviescommissie inzake Vraagstukken van Ontwapening en Internationale Veiligheid en Vrede Röling, B.V.A. / Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken / 1975

30. The significance of the laws of war Röling, B.V.A. / In: Current problems of international law / 1975

31. De definitie van agressie Röling, B.V.A. / In: Vrijheid en recht : opstellen aangeboden aan Prof. mr. E.H. s'Jacob / 1975

32. Die Definition der Aggression Röling, B.V.A. / Duncker & Humbolt / In: Recht im Dienst des Friedens : Festschrift für Eberhard Menzel zum 65. Geburtstag am 21. Januar 1976 / 1975

33. Völkerrecht und Friedenswissenschaft Röling, Bert V.A. / Deutsche Gesellschaft für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung / 1974

34. Volkenrecht en vrede Röling, B.V.A. / Kluwer / 1973

35. Polemologie : een inleiding tot de wetenschap van oorlog en vrede Röling, B.V.A. / 3e, herz. en bijgew. dr / Van Gorcum / 1973

36. Volkenrechtelijke aspecten van hulp aan bevrijdingsbewegingen Röling, B.V.A. / In: Internationale spectator; vol. 27, pag. 717-721 / 1973

37. Verandering in het oorlogsrecht Röling, B.V.A. / In: Nederlands Juristenblad; vol. 48, pag. 305-312 / 1973

38. International law and the maintenance of peace Röling, B.V.A. / In: Netherlands yearbook of international law; vol. 4, pag. 1-103 / 1973

39. De 'clausula rebus sic stantibus' in het volkenrecht Röling, B.V.A. / In: Rechtsgeleerd magazijn Themis; afl. bijzonder 516, pag. 574-601 / 1972

40. De rechtspositie van de opstandige in de burgeroorlog Röling, B.V.A. / In: Recht als instrument van behoud en verandering : opstellen aangeboden aan prof. mr. J.J.M. van der Ven / 1972

41. De betekenis van de Verenigde Naties Röling, B.V.A. / Keesing / In: 25 jaar Verenigde Naties : een balans en evaluatie : verslag van de studieconferentie Vrede - Rechtvaardigheid - Vooruitgang in het Vredespaleis, oktober 1970 georganiseerd door het Nationaal Comité "25 jaar Verenigde Naties" / onder red. van A.C.H. Kuntze, W.J.C. Melgert en W.J.Wassen, ISBN 9060831292 / 1971

42. Vrede als probleem van wereldstructuur Röling, B.V.A. / In: Civis Mundi; vol. 10, pag. 206-213 / 1971

43. Einführung in die Wissenschaft von Krieg und Frieden Röling, B.V.A. / Neukirchener Verlag / 1970

44. Inleiding tot de wetenschap van oorlog en vrede : Teleac cursus Polemologie Röling, B.V.A. / Van Gorcum etc. / 1968

45. Nieuw-Guinea en de Volkskrant Lafeber, C.V. / Van Gorcum etc. / 1968 46. World peace through world economy : Youth & Student Division of the World Association of World Federalists. 6th International Study Conference Röling, B.V.A. / Van Gorcum etc. / 1968

47. De processen van Neurenberg en Tokio en die van Stockholm-Roskilde Röling, B.V.A. / In: Ars Aequi; vol. 17, afl. 7, pag. 312-318 / 1968

48. The scientific basis of peace Röling, Bert V.A. / UNESCO / 1968

49. Proceedings of the International Peace Research Association inaugural conference (Groningen, July 3-5, 1965) Röling, Bert V.A. / Van Gorcum / 1966

50. Voorwaarden voor de vrede Weizsäcker, C.F. von / Lemniscaat / 1966

51. Opstand en revolutie ; Eerste serie / met bijdragen van B.V.A. Röling ... [et al.] Röling, B.V.A. / Van Gorcum / 1965

52. Quelques réflexions sur le droit criminel supranational Röling, B.V.A. / In: Revue internationale de droit pénal; vol. 35, pag. 63-82 / 1964

53. Over oorlog en vrede : problemen van het atoomtijdperk Röling, B.V.A. / De Bezige bij / 1963

54. De oorlog in het licht der wetenschappen : tweede serie Röling, B.V.A. / Van Gorcum / 1963

55. Approaches to the study of international relations Boasson, Ch. / Van Gorcum etc. / 1963

56. Wereldpolitiek en A.B.C.-wapens : studium generale, Leiden 1961 Röling, B.V.A. / Universitaire Pers Leiden / 1962

57. The law of war and the national jurisdiction since 1945 Röling, B.V.A. / In: Recueil des cours; vol. 100 / 1961

58. International law in an expanded world Röling, B.V.A.