Per agreement with Professor Ji Weidong (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, Editor-in-chief of AJLS), Dr. Jon Truby of National University of Singapore, Centre for International Law is serving as guest editor for an Asian Journal of Law and Society special issue (to be published in 2026). AJLS is a reputable journal that provides an increasingly important Asian perspective to global law and society scholarship. AJLS peer-reviewed publications feature empirical and multi-disciplinary research and bring a unique perspective to socio-legal issues of global concerns with a comparative exploration of law and society topics. This special issue will feature the theme of ‘AI Sovereignty and International Law: Asian Regional Challenges and Global Implications’.  This issue seeks to critically explore the intersection of AI sovereignty and international law, with a particular focus on Asia’s role in shaping global AI governance frameworks.

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies become integral to governance, trade, and national security, the concept of AI sovereignty—the capacity of states to control and regulate AI within their borders—has emerged as a pressing issue. In Asia, diverse legal systems, cultural values, and geopolitical realities create unique challenges and opportunities for asserting AI sovereignty in an interconnected world.

International law, traditionally tasked with mediating cross-border challenges, now faces new questions related to AI, including the regulation of transnational data flows, governance of dual-use technologies, and the implications of AI for human rights, trade agreements, and sustainability. This special issue examines how international law can address the complexities of AI sovereignty, balancing national interests with the need for global cooperation and sustainable practices.

This special issue welcomes original empirical research articles in the international law field, particularly those focusing on the Asian contexts. We are particularly looking forward to articles on any of the following topics:

1. AI Sovereignty and International Legal Frameworks

• How does international law define and address AI sovereignty?
• Tensions between national sovereignty and international cooperation in AI governance.
• Comparative perspectives on AI sovereignty in Asian and non-Asian contexts.

2. Data Sovereignty and Cross-Border Regulations

• Implications of data sovereignty on international trade and agreements.
• Conflicts between data localisation laws and international law frameworks (e.g., WTO, CPTPP).
• Asia’s role in shaping norms for cross-border data governance.

3. AI, Human Rights, and International Law

• Impact of AI sovereignty on human rights, freedom of expression, and privacy.
• Role of international law in preventing abuses linked to sovereign AI policies.
• Ensuring accountability and fairness in AI applications through global legal mechanisms.
• AI Sovereignty and Mass Surveillance

4. AI Sovereignty and Sustainability

• Environmental Sustainability:
  • Energy demands of AI technologies and their implications for sovereignty.
  • Carbon emissions from data localisation and AI infrastructure.
  • Incentives for sustainable AI practices, such as green AI policies and renewable energy integration.
• Socio-Economic Sustainability:
  • Ensuring equitable access to AI technologies across nations, particularly for the Global South.
  • Ethical and sustainable supply chains for AI-related resources (e.g., rare earth minerals).
• Balancing Sovereignty and Global Public Goods:
  • Sovereignty policies that promote cross-border data sharing for global challenges like climate change and disaster response.
  • Aligning AI governance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

5. National Security, AI, and International Law

• Dual-use AI technologies and their regulation under international law.
• Balancing AI innovation with national and international security concerns.
• The role of international institutions (e.g., UN, ITU) in addressing AI’s security risks.
• AI Sovereignty, Military Autonomy and cyberwar

6. Trade, Competition, and Technology Transfer

• AI Sovereignty, data centres, and semiconductor regulation (ie. US CHIPS Act)
• AI sovereignty’s impact on global trade, economic competition, and technology transfer.
• Legal challenges in addressing AI-related trade disputes and intellectual property rights.
• Asia’s strategies for achieving technological independence while navigating international trade law.

7. Regional and Global AI Governance

• The potential for regional cooperation in Asia through ASEAN, RCEP, or other platforms.
• Role of international law in harmonising global AI standards (e.g., ISO, OECD).
• Lessons from international efforts, including the UN’s AI for Good initiative and ITU’s AI for Environmental Efficiency focus group.

Please keep in mind the following in your consideration and submission:

• The final manuscript will be published in English with an average length of 10,000 words. Please find specific author instructions here.

• The topic of the thesis should be closely related to the relevant issues in the call
• Preferences will be given to broad coverage of Asia, including all regions and areas; collaboration with scholars from Asian nations and societies would be welcome
• All finally selected manuscripts will undergo peer review

  This special volume of AJLS will be edited by Dr Jon Truby.

Manuscripts and enquiries should be submitted to Eim Huiyeon huiyeon.eim@u.nus.edu in MS WORD format. 

Manuscripts should represent unpublished original work. If you are potentially interested in contributing to this special issue, please send us via email:

(1) a proposed title of your manuscript, and

(2) an abstract (150 words) by 15 April 2025.

The deadline for submissions of the full manuscript is 15 October 2025, and the projected publication is 2026.

Guest editor: Dr Jon Truby, Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore