Wolfgang Friedmann

Wolfgang Gaston Friedmann ( born January 25, 1907 in Berlin, † September 20, 1972 in New York ) was a German -American jurist and professor of international law at Columbia University, in particular, distinguished himself in the field of international economic law. According to him, the Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award is named, which is awarded by Columbia University for outstanding achievements in the field of international law.

Life

Wolfgang Friedmann was born in Berlin in 1907. He grew up in Germany and graduated in 1930 his law studies at the University of Berlin from. He then practiced as a lawyer and from 1933 as a judge of the Labour Court. After he was released after the seizure of power by the National Socialists, he emigrated to London in 1934 and adopted British citizenship. At the University of London two years later he obtained a Master of Laws ( LL.M.) and doctorate in 1947. He specialized in the field of international law and worked among other things as a lecturer at the University of London as well as a professor at the University of Melbourne and the University of Toronto.

From 1955 until his death he was Professor of International Law and Director of International Legal Research ( Director for International Law Research ) at Columbia University in New York (USA). His research activities were the international business law and economic problems in developing countries and the impact of development assistance. Other areas in which he distinguished himself, were the sociology of law and comparative jurisprudence. He looked at the law, especially as a means of improving the condition of mankind, to eliminate the shortcomings of human society as well as to achieving universal peace and prosperity order.

Wolfgang Friedmann in 1972 killed three young people during an armed robbery on the street, an event that provoked much public attention in New York due to his circumstances. So, The New York Times the death of Friedmann, the several passers- passers rendered no assistance and consequently bled to death in the immediate vicinity of the Morningside Heights campus of Columbia University, in an editorial with the words " The jungle Could not be more unfeeling towards its creatures " ( Even the jungle could not be unfeeling towards his creatures ). Only two weeks before his death had been killed in the hostage-taking of Munich during the 1972 Summer Olympics with the Israeli weightlifter David Mark Berger one of his students.

Wolfgang Friedmann was married in 1937 and father of three sons.

Commemoration

The Faculty of Law at Columbia University gives to the memory of Wolfgang Friedmann since 1975, the Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award for outstanding achievements in the field of international law. Among the previous winners include, among others, the former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor of the United States (2007), the former Swedish foreign minister and director of the International Atomic Energy Agency Hans Blix (2002), former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker ( 1996) and former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros -Ghali (1995).

Works (selection)

• Legal Theory. Stevens & Sons, London 1953
• The Changing Structure of International Law. Columbia University Press, New York 1964
• Joint International Business Ventures in Developing Countries: Case Studies and Analyses of Recent Trends. Columbia University Press, New York 1971