INTRODUCTION

“Multinational Rules and Systems of Dispute Resolution in an Era of Global Economy” – the title of this chapter, based on the general report to the first session of the International Association of Procedural Law’s 2019 World Conference, could be one of the objectives of the Association: Dispute Resolution is the object and one of the aims of procedural law; procedural law is not only a set of principles and rules which could already be called a system, but often comes along with a supporting infrastructure, for example – and the term is telling – a court system; and the focus on multinational rules and systems is perfectly in line with the international character of our Association.

“Multinational Rules and Systems of Dispute Resolution in an Era of Global Economy” – the title of this general report is also a perfect topic with which to start an international conference. It promises that every proceduralist, regardless of which part of the world and which legal background he or she is from, finds something he or she is familiar with and, in the best-case scenario, is interested in. “Dispute resolution” can be achieved in the traditional way, through decisions of public courts, or in a number of alternative ways, and both areas have their devotees. “Rules and systems” cover everything which can possibly be called procedural law, from access to the means of dispute resolution over the organization of the proceedings to the outcome, including its recognition and enforcement. And the focus on multinational rules and systems ensures that more than one legal order is covered.

“Multinational Rules and Systems of Dispute Resolution in an Era of Global Economy” – the title of this general report is also perfect for the impressive venue in which the 2019 World Conference took place, Kōbe. Thanks to its geographic situation, Kōbe has always been a port town, and in the second half of the nineteenth century, it became one of the places in Japan where international commerce started early on. Until the devastating earthquake in 1995, Kōbe was the largest port in Asia and the second-largest port in the world.