International Law Review

International Law Review

A New Perspective on the “Consent” as an Inherent Element of International Commercial Arbitration

Document Type : academic

Authors
Department of Private Law, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
Abstract
The phrase that arbitration is a creature of contract and mutual consent is so intertwined with arbitration literature that the relationship between arbitration and the element of consent is considered the same as the relationship between a body and its shadow. This is despite the fact that at least in the international trade relations, arbitration is considered the natural method of dispute resolution. Now, the question arises: why the consent of the parties should be an inherent element of a mechanism that is the most popular and common method of dispute resolution? This article, using a descriptive analytical method, seeks to explain that the fundamental and inherent authority of the element of consent in international commercial arbitration has faced decline in recent times. Accordingly, in the scope of international trade, instead of the default jurisdiction of national courts, one should speak of the primary and default jurisdiction of arbitration.
Keywords
Subjects

References:
- Books
1.         Alidadi Dehkohneh, Ali, and Abouzar Johari. Practical Arbitration Law. Tehran: Jud Publication, 2022. (In Persian)
2.         Blackaby, Nigel, Constantine Partasides QC, and Alan Redfern and Martin Hunter. Redfern and Hunter on International Arbitration. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.
3.         Cuniberti, Gilles. Rethinking International Commercial Arbitration: Toward Default Arbitration. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
4.         Fouchard, Philippe, Emmanuel Gaillard, and Berthold Goldman. International Commercial Arbitration. The Hague: Kluwer Law International, 1999.
5.         Karimi, Abbas, and Hamidreza Partow. Domestic Arbitration Law. Tehran: Dadgostar Publishing, 2018. (In Persian)
6.         Khodabakhshi, Abdollah. Disputes Law: Concise of Comparative Arbitration Law. Tehran: Sahami Enteshar Co, 2018. (In Persian)
7.         Kondev, Dimitar. Multi-Party and Multi-Contract Arbitration in the Construction Industry. Wiley Blackwell, 2017.
8.         Lew, Julian D. M., and Loukas A. Mistelis and Stefan M. Kroll. Comparative International Commercial Arbitration. Translated by: M. Habibi Mojandeh. Qom: Mofid University Press, 2012. (In Persian)
9.         Moses, Margaret L. The Principles and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
10.     Rubino-Sammartano, Mauro. International Arbitration Law and Practice. The Hague: Kluwer Law International, 2001.
11.     Seyedi, Javad. Introduction to Arbitrability in International Commercial Arbitration. Tehran: Jangal Publication, 2013. (In Persian)
12.     Shoarian, Ebrahim. Arbitration Agreement From Conclusion to Termination, Domestic and International Arbitration Law Perspective. Tehran: Shahrdanesh, 2023. (In Persian)
 
13.     Youssef, Karim. Consent in Context: Fulfilling the Promise of International Arbitration: Multiparty, Multi-Contract, and Non-Contract Arbitration. Eagan: West, 2012.
 
- Articles
1.         Aram, Mohammadreza, and Feizollah Jafari, “Arbitration, Natural or Exceptional Method of Dispute Resolution.” The Judiciary Law Journal 89, no. 129 (2025). (In Persian)
2.         Ayres, Ian, and Robert Gertner, “Filling Gaps in Incomplete Contracts: An Economic Theory of Default Rules.” Yale Law Journal 99, no. 1 (1989).
3.         Born, Gary, “BITS, BATS and Buts: Reflections on International Dispute Resolution.” Young Arbitration Review 13 (2014).
4.         Cuniberti, Gilles, “Beyond Contract- The case for Default Arbitration in internation commercial disputes.” Fordham International Law Journal 32, no. 2 (2008).
5.         Del Prado, Fabio Nunez, “The Fallacy of Consent: Should Arbitration Be a Creature of Contract?.” Emory International law Review 35(2021).
6.         Graves, Jack, “Court Litigation over Arbitration Agreements: Is it Time for a New Default Rule?.” The American Review of International Arbitration 23, no. 1 (2012).
7.         Kazemi, Mahmoud, Ebrahim Taghizaadeh and Ali Ahmadi Bayazi, “Survival Clause: A Comparative Study in Islamic and French Law.” Comparative Law Review 11, no. 1 (2020). (In Persian)
8.         Moses, Margaret L, “Challenges For The Future: The Diminishing Role of Consent in Arbitration.” Loyola University Chicago School of law Research 11 (2014).
9.         Pour Ostad, Majid, “The Principle of Party Disposition.” Law and Political Science 38, no. 3 (2008). (In Persian)
10.     Rigozzi, Antonio and Fabrica Robert Tissot, “Consent in Sport Arbitration: Its Multiple Aspects. in Sports Arbitration: A Coach for Other Players?.” Swiss Arbitration Association 41 (2015).
11.     Strong, S.I, “Arbitration of Trust Disputes: Two Bodies of Law Collide.” Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law 45 (2012).
 
- Cases
1.         Stolt-Nielsen SA v. Animalfeeds International Corporation, 27 Apr 2010, 559 U.S.662.
2.         Penn Plaza LLC v. Pyett, 1 Apr 2009, 556 U.S. 247.
3.         CompuCredit Corp. v. Greenwood, 10 Jan 2012, 565 U.S. 95.
4.         Schoneberger v. Oelze, 31 August 2004, Court of Appeals of Arizona. Division 1, Department E.
5.         Guillermo Canas v. Association Tennis Professionals World Tour(World Tour Atp), 23 May 2006, CAS /A/951.
- Thesis
1.         Aram, Mohammadreza. “Philosophy of Arbitration Law,” Ph.D. Thesis in Private Law, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Bu- Ali Sina University, (2025). (In Persian)
2.         Andrea Marco, Steingruber. “Notion, Nature and Extent of Consent in International Arbitration,” Doctoral Thesis, Queen Mary University of London, (2009).
3.         Karami Kolmoti, Farzad. “Compulsory arbitration in Iran Law,” M.A. Thesis, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, (2018). (In Persian)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  • Receive Date 01 April 2025
  • Revise Date 01 May 2025
  • Accept Date 02 May 2025