Study examines influence networks within the European Court of Human Rights

A scientific study published in the International Journal of Constitutional Law examines the competing influence networks operating within the institutional environment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg.

The research, conducted by Cristina E. Parau and Gaëtan Cliquennois, highlights a tension between a dominant liberal network of human rights professionals and emerging conservative organizations. The study focuses on the activities of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) between 2020 and 2024, noting how the organization successfully contributed to modifying the Court’s procedural rules despite having limited institutional influence.

Key findings include the role of an epistemic community consisting of judges, academics, and NGO officials who support an evolutionary interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights. The study also addresses potential conflicts of interest regarding professional movement between NGOs and international judicial bodies, as well as the impact of funding from private foundations such as the Open Society Foundations, the Ford Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation.