Dalian Maritime University Legal Forum (Issue 1)

Author: Qu Guangqing
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: The first issue of the Dalian Maritime University Law Forum was put on hold before printing. Upon closer examination, it can be attributed to two points: First, it was influenced by the 2002 China International Economic Law Annual Conference. As the first gathering of international economic law scholars after China's entry into the WTO, the 2002 conference showcased unprecedented prosperity: renowned experts and emerging scholars gathered together, filled with youthful vigor and passionate discourse. The works presented were insightful and could shape the new legal system under profound transformation. As the organizers, we dared not take advantage of our proximity to the event and worked tirelessly day and night to compile nearly 70 outstanding contributions—some pioneering, some profound, some enlightening—into a journal, aiming to benefit scholars worldwide and contribute to the nation's long-term prosperity. Second, it was inspired by the spirit of "discourse." Deciding to create a "forum" was to highlight the crucial role of "discourse" in disseminating legal thought, establishing legal reasoning, and cultivating legal awareness. Law is a rule for people, and people are diverse. Only through commentary, discussion, debate, or even argument can we trace the origins of principles, reach a consensus on behavioral norms, and lay the foundation for social rule of law. This is easy in theory but difficult in practice. It is not a lack of talent among scholars, but rather the constraints of journal sections, professional directions, word limits, or even the deep-seated reverence for law that comes from long exposure to it. Only through careful deliberation, meticulous wording, and rigorous precision can such articles be crafted. In fact, law is a dynamic social science that requires dynamic thinking and dynamic expression. "The unorthodox scholar's unrestrained opinions," which were not praised by Mencius, are highly beneficial for the development of law today. Whether it is traditional, ancient, or popular, even issues long considered settled or deemed sacrosanct, should be subject to discussion and debate to help China, undergoing profound historical transformation, find a path to strengthen its rule of law. Thus, in collaboration with the Law Press, we pioneered the Law Forum, aiming to foster thought, encourage discourse, promote debate, and achieve clarity, with an open platform for broad and inclusive perspectives.