Paul B. Stephan

About the Author

Paul B. Stephan is a distinguished legal scholar and professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he has taught international law, contracts, and European Union law for over three decades. With a J.D. from Yale Law School and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan, Stephan's academic career bridges rigorous legal analysis with historical insight, exploring the intersections of sovereignty, governance, and global institutions. His seminal work, The Limits of Leviathan: Contract Theory and the Enforcement of International Law, examines how contractual principles underpin the fragile architecture of international obligations, challenging traditional views on state power and compliance. A frequent contributor to leading journals and advisor to international tribunals, Stephan's writings illuminate the tensions between national interests and transnational norms in an increasingly interconnected world.