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Photograph of Bill Davies

Bill Davies Associate Professor and Department Chair, Justice Law & Criminology Justice, Law & Criminology

Degrees
Ph.D., European Studies, King's College London


B.A., European Studies and German (Hons), King's College London

Languages Spoken
German (fluent); French (working knowledge)
Favorite Spot on Campus
Ward Circle Building
Bio
Dr. Davies is a historian of the European Union's constitutional and legal system.

Dr. Davies teaches courses such as JLC-110 Western Legal Traditions and JLC-411 Great Trials in Legal History.
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Spring 2025

  • JLC-110 Western Legal Tradition

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Selected Publications

Books and Monographs

Peer Reviewed Articles

  • "From International Law to a European Rechtsgemeinschaft: Towards a New History of European Law, 1950-1979," Publications of the European Union Liaison Committee of Historians,  Nomos-Verlagsgesellschaft: Baden-Baden pending.
  • "Toward a New History of European Law: An Introduction" in Contemporary European History, 21, 3, August 2012 (Co-author: Morten Rasmussen).
  • "Pushing Back: What Happens When Member States Resist the ECJ: A Multi-Modal Approach to the History of European Law" in Contemporary European History, 21, 3, August 2012.
  • "Meek Acceptance? The West German Ministries’ Reaction to the Van Gend en Loos and Costa Decisions" in Journal of European Integration History, 14, 2 January 2009, pp 57-76.

Working Papers

  • "Dealing with the Fallout: West Germany’s Response to the Solange Decision (1974)" in American Consortium of European Studies Working Paper Series, July 2011, http://aei.pitt.edu/59185/.
  • "The Incoming Tide: Britain’s Struggle with the Supremacy of European Law 1970-1990: An Introductory Survey" in American Consortium of European Studies Research Seed Grant Series, July 2011.

Book Reviews

  • Review of “Die Bundesrepublik und die Europäische Einigung 1949-2000” by König and Schulz (eds.) in German History, Vol 24, no 2, May 2006, pp. 317-8.
  • Review of The Time of European Governance by Magnus Ekengren in Journal of European Affairs, Vol. 2 no 2, pp 64-66.

Other Contributions

  • "Bipartisanship in 20th Century Europe," Bi-Partisan Policy Center, June 2010.

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

2012:  ‘Outstanding Teacher’ award,

Department of Justice, Law and Society Awards Ceremony

2012:   Leverhulme Visiting Professorship

For extended period of research leave in the UK, based at the Bracton Centre for Legal History at the University of Exeter during Junior Faculty Teaching Release in Spring 2012

2011: ACES Research Seed Grant

The Incoming Tide: Britain’s Struggle with the Supremacy of European Law 1970-1990

2011: ACES Working Paper Grant

Dealing with the Fallout: West Germany’s Response to the Solange Decision (1974)

2011: Curriculum Development Award

Award to develop 400-level class entitled Contemporary European Legal Thought

2011: International Faculty Travel Award

Funding to travel to Brussels, Belgium for archive research

2011: Junior Faculty Summer Research Award

2010: American Consortium for European Studies Conference Award

Given one of only two awards to institutions across the DC consortium for organizing and holding conference on the history of European integration

2010: Junior Faculty Summer Research Award

2009: International Faculty Travel Award: $1,500

Funding to travel and research expenses to visit archives in Berlin, Germany

2007: King’s College London

Nomination for College’s “Excellence in Teaching”

2004–2005: Stipendium der Studienstiftung des Berliner Abgeordnetenhaus (Berlin State Parliament Award)

Awarded 12 months funding and accommodation for full-time research in Berlin

Selected as one of top 3 students from 24 recipients for Leistungsstipendium (Further Achievement Funding)

2003 –2006: King’s College London School of Humanities Research Scholarship

3 year’s tuition and living costs for PhD research.

AU Experts

Area of Expertise

European Union law and politics; the European Constitution; German history, politics, and constitution; legal and political theory

Additional Information

Bill Davies joined the AU faculty in August 2007 after finishing his doctoral research at King's College London. His research examines the supranational nature of the European Union's legal framework and its interaction with its member states. He has been published in the Journal of European Integration History and has presented at numerous international conferences on the European Constitution on both sides of the Atlantic.

For the Media

To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

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