Rein Müllerson

Rein Müllerson
Müllerson in 2019
Born (1944-03-23) March 23, 1944
Tuutari, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
CitizenshipEstonian
Alma materMoscow State University (graduated 1976)
OccupationsInternational law scholar; politician
Known forPublic international law; human rights; President of the Institut de Droit international (2013–2015)

Rein Müllerson (born 23 March 1944) is an Estonian legal scholar and former politician known for work on public international law, human rights, and international politics.[1][2] He served as First Deputy Foreign Minister of Estonia in 1991–1992, and was a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 1988–1992.[3] Müllerson was professor and chair of international law at King's College London, and later held senior academic roles in Tallinn University's law and social sciences units.[3][4] He is a member of the Institut de Droit international (Institute of International Law), and served as its president (2013–2015).[3][4]

Early life and education

Müllerson graduated from Moscow State University in 1976 and received a doctorate in law in 1985.[5] Tallinn University biographies describe him as holding a PhD (1978) and a doctorate (1985) from Moscow State University.[6]

Career

Academic and advisory roles (USSR)

From the late Soviet period, Müllerson worked in Moscow in international law scholarship and policy advisory roles; the UN Audiovisual Library of International Law biography describes him as head of the International Law Department of the Institute of State and Law (Academy of Sciences, Moscow) and an adviser on international law to Mikhail Gorbachev during 1987–1991.[3] Other institutional biographies similarly place his earlier teaching and research work at Moscow State University and the Academy of Sciences in Moscow.[5][6]

Estonian government (1991–1992)

In 1991–1992, Müllerson served as Estonia's First Deputy Foreign Minister during the transition period after the Estonian Restoration of Independence.[3] Publisher and academic biographies also describe him as deputy foreign minister during that period.[7][5]

United Kingdom academia

The UN Audiovisual Library biography states that Müllerson was Visiting Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics (1992–1994) and later professor and chair of international law at King's College London, where he also directed an MA programme on international peace and security.[3] His academic profile is listed in King's College London's research portal, including research interests in international law and human rights.[2] Müllerson has also appeared in UK academic programming and events bios describing his prior roles at King's and LSE.[8][9]

Tallinn University and University Nord

Biographies published by Tallinn University describe Müllerson as holding leadership roles connected to its law school structures and related units, and also as rector of Tallinn University Nord (often rendered as University Nord) during 2009–2017.[6][10] Tallinn University also published announcements about his election to leadership in international legal organizations while affiliated with the university.[4]

Institut de Droit international and international roles

Müllerson has been a member of the Institut de Droit international since 1995 and was elected its president in 2013, serving through the 2013–2015 cycle according to multiple institutional biographies and event descriptions.[3][4][6] The Cambridge University Press journal European Law Open devoted a published dialogue/interview feature to Müllerson discussing his career and ideas in international law and politics.[11]

United Nations

The United Nations Audiovisual Library biography describes Müllerson as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (1988–1992).[3] It also states that in 2004–2005, on sabbatical from King's College London, he served as UN Regional Adviser for Central Asia.[3]

Publications

Müllerson has written books and articles on international law, human rights, and geopolitics, including works published by major academic presses and trade publishers.[11][3] His publications include:

  • International Law, Rights and Politics: Developments in Eastern Europe and the CIS (Routledge, 1994).[7]
  • Human Rights Diplomacy (Routledge, 1997).[3]
  • Ordering Anarchy: International Law in International Society (Springer, 2000).[3]
  • Central Asia: A Chessboard and Player in the New Great Game (Kegan Paul / Columbia University Press imprint; 2007).[12]
  • Democracy – A Destiny of Humankind? A Qualified, Contingent and Contextual Case for Democracy Promotion (Nova Science Publishers, 2009).[5]
  • Geopolitics and the Clash of Ideologies (I.B. Tauris / Bloomsbury, 2017).[11]

Public commentary and controversy

Müllerson has been a public commentator on Russia, international law, and the war in Ukraine. Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) reported in 2019 that he was awarded Russia's Order of Friendship, and quoted remarks he made at the award ceremony about Russia's role in international law and a "multi-polar world."[13] The same report noted that critics have accused him of acting as an apologist for Russian actions, including regarding Crimea.[13]

In 2024, ERR reported that Müllerson participated in the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum and defended his decision to speak at the forum.[14] In September 2024, ERR reported that Tallinn University's senate revoked his professor emeritus status, citing the university's post-2022 policy of ending cooperation with Russian state institutions and finding that his participation in a conference organized by Russia's Ministry of Justice violated those principles and caused reputational harm to the university.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rein Müllerson – mees kolme eluga". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). 16 December 2000. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Rein Mullerson". King's Research Portal (King's College London). Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Biography – Mr. Rein Müllerson, Professor of International Law, King's College London" (PDF). United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d "Rein Müllerson was elected President of the most prestigious law organisation". Tallinn University. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d "Rein Müllerson". Eurozine. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d "Conference "Angry Times. Populism and Democracy Discontent" (2020) – Scholars". SOGOLAS Global Forum (Tallinn University). Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b "International Law, Rights and Politics: Developments in Eastern Europe and the CIS – Author biography". Routledge. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Is International Law 'International'?". London School of Economics. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  9. ^ "The Nation-State: Not Yet Ready for the Dustbin of History?". Queen Mary University of London. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Conference "Still a Cold Monster? Rise and Decline of Modern State" (2021)". SOGOLAS Global Forum (Tallinn University). Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  11. ^ a b c Menéndez, Agustín José (2022). "Three times lucky: in dialogue with Rein Müllerson". European Law Open. 1: 446–461. doi:10.1017/elo.2022.27.
  12. ^ "Central Asia: A Chessboard and Player in the New Great Game". King's Research Portal (King's College London). Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  13. ^ a b "Tallinn University professor: International law impossible without Russia". ERR News. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Estonian professor emeritus justifies speaking at Russian forum". ERR News. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Estonian university strips prof's emeritus status over Russian conference". ERR News. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
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