Publication s: E-Essays and Other Works
E-Essays: Law at the End of the Day; http://www.lcbackerblog.blogspot.com.
Legal-Institutional Foundations for Reconstruction in a Post-Revolutionary Cuba: A Conceptual Exercise, in Cuba in Transition: Papers and Proceedings of the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy 36:– (forthcoming 2026).
Panel Discussion: How to Become a Full-Time Law Professor – A Workshop for Aspirants, 72(3-4) Journal of Legal Education 114-137 (2024) (with Alfreda Robinson, Craig Konnoth, Melinda Molina, and Anita Sinha) (edited transcript), 73(1) Journal of Legal Education 112-135 (2024).
Beyond the Ritual of Treaties as Gestures: Effectively Closing the Governance Gap in the Area of Business and Human Rights with a Framework Treaty, Völkerrechtsblog, 24.06.2022, doi: 10.17176/20220624-161958-0.
The EU to the Rescue of the Cuban Economy? the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) and the State of Cuba-EU Economic Relations, in Cuba in Transition: Papers and Proceedings of the Thirtieth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 30:70-88 (2021) (with Rafael Velázquez Pérez).
Emancipating the Mind in the New Era: Bulletin of the Coalition for Peace & Ethics 15(2) (Winter 2020) (Issue editor) (ISSN 2689-0283 ((print); 2689-0291 (online)
Introduction: Coalition for Peace & Ethics Interventions and Inputs related to Business and Human Rights; Articles and Essays by CPE Members and Invited Contributors on Issues of Cuba” 15(3):451-452 (view HERE)
Coalition for Peace & Ethics (prepared by Larry Catá Backer), “‘Elites have to get out of the way’; Coalition for Peace & Ethics Input to the U.N. Working Group Project “UNGPs +10: Toward a Decade of Global Implementation” 15(3):453-464 (view HERE)
Short Reflections on the U.N. Working Group’s July 2020 Report to the General Assembly: “Business, Human Rights and Conflict-Affected Regions: Towards Heightened Action” 15(3):465-474 (View HERE)
“Policy as an Oscillation with the Illusion of Progress in the United States, China, and Cuba” 15(3):501-512 (View HERE)
Emancipating the Mind in the New Era: Bulletin of the Coalition for Peace & Ethics 15(2) (Summer 2020; Special Issue Coronavirus and International Affairs) ((Issue editor) (ISSN 2689-0283 ((print); 2689-0291 (online); ISBN 978-1-949943-04-7 (ePub)):
Introduction: Coronavirus and International Affairs in the New Era of Globalization 15(2):145-154 (View HERE).
Event Summary Description and Concept Note 15(2):155-172 (View HERE)
The Revelations of COVID-19 and the Most Significant Developments in the International Arena During the Last 12 Months (17 March 2020) 15(2):185-192 (View HERE)
The Metamorphosis of COVID-19: State, Society, Law, Analytics 15(2):261-352 (View HERE)
Will COVID-19 infect the world order?, in International Thinker’s Views on the Post-Corona Order 10-18 (Mehdi Azizi, Payman Yazdani, and Javad Heirannia (eds.) (may be accessed HERE); Tehran: Mehr News Agency, July 2020); also published in Farsi as نظم آتی جهان وابسته به موفقیت چین یا آمریکا در مقابله با کروناست[The future world order depends on the success of China or the United States against COVID-19] in (در گفتگـو با اندیشمنـدان جهـان پساکـرونا) [Jahan Pasakrona: In conversation with thinkers] is available here or here.
International Organizations and Systemic Crisis, ASTRID Rassegna (Rome) No. 322(11):1-13 (2020) (with Fabio Bassan, and Susanna Cafaro) (ISSN 2038-1662). Available http://www.astrid-online.it/rassegna/2020/13-07-2020-n-322.html.
External Capitalist and Internal Marxist: The Fundamental Contradiction of Cuban Economic Reintegration in the Global Economic Order and the Role of the U.S., in Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Ninth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 29:228-254 (2020) (ISBN 978-0-9831360-9-5). Available https://www.ascecuba.org/publications/annual-proceedings/cuba-in-transition-volume-29/.
Emancipating the Mind in the New Era: Bulletin of the Coalition for Peace & Ethics 15(1) (Spring 2020) (Larry Catá Backer and Flora Sapio, eds.) (Theme: “Evolutions Converging? Human Rights Internationalism and the Chinese Political-Economic Model from Reform and Opening Up to New Era Thought”) (ISSN 2689-0283 ((print); 2689-0291 (online)):
Introduction: Evolutions Converging? Human Rights Internationalism and the Chinese Political-Economic Model from Reform and Opening Up to New Era Thought 15(1):1-4 (with Flora Sapio) (View HERE).
The Weak Underbelly of Business and Human Rights: Reflections on the 8th U.N. Forum on Business and Human Rights 15(1): 11-50 (View HERE) .
“Peaches and Plums do not Speak, but they are so Attractive that a Path is Formed Below the trees” [桃李不言，下自成蹊]: China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights; Remarks Delivered at the 8th United Nations Forum for Business and Human Rights (26 November 2019) 15(1):51-64 (View HERE).
Introduction : From the “Song of the Young Phoenix on the Tong Tree” to the “Peng Bird Riding High and Flying for Nine Thousand Li”: Toward New Era Thought From Reform and Opening Up 15(1):65-70 (with Flora Sapio) (View HERE).
Toward New Era Thought: Reflections on Xi Jinping, Speech at the Meeting Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening Up 15(1):121-144 (View HERE).
“How to Become a Full Time Law Professor” — Transcript of Remarks Delivered at the Panel Session, Panel 4G: How to Become a Full-Time Law Professor –A Workshop for Aspirants, 4th National People of Color Scholarship Conference, Journal of Legal Education 29:– (forthcoming 2020). Prepublication draft Available HERE.
Emancipating the Mind: Bulletin of the Coalition for Peace & Ethics (Larry Catá Backer and Flora Sapio, eds. And essays) 14(2) (Fall 2019) (Theme: “Commentary on the U.N. Inter-Governmental Working Group (Geneva) 2019 Draft “Legally Binding Instrument to Regulate, in International Human Rights Law, The Activities of Corporations and Other Business Enterprises”) (ISSN 2689-0283 ((print); 2689-0291 (online)):
Introduction: CPE-Treaty Project Working Group; Framing An Analysis of the 2019 Draft Legally Binding Instrument 14(2):153-162 (with Flora Sapio) (View HERE).
Preamble; Analysis of Principles, Context, and Textual Analysis 14(2):169-178 (View HERE).
On the Victimization of International Law and the Ethos of the Treaty Project in Article 1 14(2):191-195 (with Comments of Flora Sapio 14(2):196-198 (View HERE).
Textual Analysis of the Definitions in Article 1 14(2):199-208 (View HERE).
Textual Analysis of Article 2 14(2):211-216 (View Here).
Textual Analysis of Article 3 in the Shadow of the Zero Draft 14(2):221-226 (View HERE).
Article 4: General Analysis of Framework and Structure 14(2):229-236 (View HERE).
Flavors of the Month Rarely Outlast their Novelty: A Close Examination of Article 4 and the Construction of the Victim as a Legal Category 14(2):245-254 (View HERE).
Article 5: A Partial Legalization of the UN Guiding Principles Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights Pillar—Textual and Conceptual Analysis 14(2):255-260 (View HERE).
Article 6: A Conceptual Analysis of the Conundrums of Legal Liability 14(2):265-276 (View HERE).
Articles 7-9: The Substantive Consequences of Boilerplate, a Textual Analysis 14(2):277-284 (View HERE).
Article 10 (Mutual Legal Assistance): Smoke and Mirrors? 14(2):285-290 (View HERE).
Articles 11 (International Cooperation) and 12 (Consistency with International Law) With a Nod to Article 16 (Dispute Resolution): Technical Provisions With Normative Punch 14(2):299-304 (View HERE).
The Devil is in the Implementation: Article 14 as a Mirror Reflecting the Strength of Vision and Challenges of Realization of the Draft LBI 14(2):305-310 (View HERE).
CPE-Treaty Project Working Group (Larry Catá Backer and Flora Sapio), Going Forward and Looking Back; On the Focus and Utility of this Commentary 14(2):313-316 (View HERE).
Emancipating the Mind: Bulletin of the Coalition for Peace & Ethics (Larry Catá Backer and Flora Sapio, eds., and essays) 14(1) (Spring 2019) (Theme: “From Globalization to Empire: Essays from the CPE Working Group on Empire”) (ISSN 2689-0283 ((print); 2689-0291 (online)):
CPE-Working Group on Empire, Foreword: In the Shadow of Empires—Latin American Perceptions of Development and International Law 14(1):1-6. (With Flora Sapio) (View HERE).
CPE-Working Group on Empire, U.S.-China Trade Talks, Encircling the United States, and the Belt and Road Initiative—Looking to a Critical Gloss on Xi Jinping’s Speeches to the BRI Conference 14(1):9-22 (with Flora Sapio) (View HERE).
A Critical Gloss on ‘China is watching Western democracy Eat Itself’ 14(1):11-18 View HERE).
CPE-Working Group on Empire, A Brief Introduction to Xi Jinping’s Speech 齐心开创共建“一带一路”美好未来 [Working Together to Deliver a Brighter Future For Belt and Road Cooperation]—U.S.-China Trade Talks, Encircling the US, and the BRI 14(1):23-32 (with Flora Sapio) (View HERE).
A Critical Gloss on Xi Jinping, 齐心开创共建“一带一路”美好未来 [Working Together to Deliver a Brighter Future For Belt and Road Cooperation] In the Shadow of the U.S.-China Trade Talks 14(1):33-46 (View HERE).
CPE-Working Group on Empire, “A Critical Reading of China’s State Council White Paper 关于中美经贸磋商的中方立场 [China’s Position on the China-US Economic and Trade Consultations” 14(1):47-118 (with Flora Sapio) View HERE].
A Thoughtful Exposition of the Chinese Position in the Current Conversation Between China and the US.:《美国陷阱》揭露了一个骇人听闻的霸凌主义案例 [The ‘American Trap’ Exposes a Shocking Case of Hegemonism]”14(1):139-148 (View HERE).
China’s Social Credit System: Data-Driven Governance for a ‘New Era’, 118(809) Current History 209-214(Sept. 2019).
The Global Economy and Cuba: Stasis and Hard Choices, in Cuba in Transition: Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Eighth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 28:189-207 (2018) (ISBN 978-0-9831360-8-8). Available https://www.ascecuba.org/publications/annual-proceedings/cuba-in-transition-volume-28/.
The Algorithms of Ideology in Economic Planning: A Critical Look at Cuba’s Economic and Social Development Plan 2030, in Cuba in Transition: Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 27:115-136 (2017) (ISBN 978-0-9831360-7-1). Available https://ascecuba.org//c/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/v27-catabacker.pdf.
The University in the Age of the Learning Factory: Dueling narratives in the culture war around higher education, Academe (AAUP) (Nov/Dec. 2017). Available https://www.aaup.org/article/university-age-learning-factory#.WlJyQ0tG1sO.
Closing Remarks: International Conference New International Trade and Investment Rules Between Globalization and Anti-Globalization, Pennsylvania State University April 21, 2017, Journal of Shanghai Business School (forthcoming 2018).
Havana: City of the Dead. Cuba Counterpoints (April, 2017; Issue XVI) ISSN 2380-0917. Available https://cubacounterpoints.com/archives/5274.
U.S. Cuban Policy After Obama. Cuba Counterpoints (Dec. 1, 2016) (ISSN 2380-0917). Available http://cubacounterpoints.com/archives/4662.
Embracing a 21st Century Planning Marxism Model: The Cuban Communist Party Confronts Crisis, Challenge and Change in its 7th Congress, in Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 26:188-208 (2016) (ISBN 978-0-9831360-6-4). Available http://www.ascecuba.org/c/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/backerpaper.pdf.
Commentary on Michael Strauss’s Essay: “Returning Guantanamo Bay to Cuban Control”, in Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 26:74-81 (2016) (ISBN 978-0-9831360-6-4). Available http://www.ascecuba.org/c/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/backercmts.pdf.
Returning Guantánamo? No Chance! A response to Strauss. Cuba Counterpoints (October 10, 2016) ISSN 2380-0917, available http://cubacounterpoints.com/archives/4058.
Emancipare la mente al servizio della modernizzazione socialista, Orizzontecina 7(2):4 (Torino World Affairs Institute; April 2016) (translating The Basic Line of the CCP Program, Law at the End of the Day 16 Sept. 2015). Available http://twai.it/upload/pdf/orizzintecina-vol.-7-n.-2-marzo-aprile-2016.pdf).
Normalization With Cuban Characteristics: How Might Cuba Navigate Normalization to Avoid Political Instability and Enhance Economic Development? Coalition for Peace / Ethics Discussion Paper, No. 5/1 (May 2016) available http://www.thecpe.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/LASA5-2016.pdf.
The Military, Ideological Frameworks and Familial Marxism: A Comment on Jung-Chul Lee, “A Lesson From Cuba’s Party-Military Relations and a Tale of “Two Front Lines” in North Korea, in Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 25:165-171 (2015) (ISBN 978-0-9831360-5-7). Available http://www.ascecuba.org/c/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/v25-backercomments.pdf.
Global Corporate Social Responsibility(GCSR) Standards With Cuban Characteristics: What Normalization Means for Transnational Enterprise Activity in Cuba, in Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 25:234-247 (2015) (ISBN 978-0-9831360-5-7). Available http://www.ascecuba.org/c/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/v25-backer.pdf.
拉瑞·巴克尔：美国政党政治的“去政治化”，Guancha, Jan. 14, 2014: Available http://www.guancha.cn/Larry-Backer/2014_01_19_200652.shtml.
The Cuban Communist Party and the Future of Course of Ideological Reform in Cuba, in Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 24:72-88 (2014) (ISBN 978-0-9831360-4-6). Available http://www.ascecuba.org/c/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/v24-backer.pdf
The Problem of Labor and the Construction of Socialism in Cuba: On Contradictions in the Reform of Cuba’s Regulations For Private Labor Cooperatives, in Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 23:110-132 (2013) (ISBN 978-0-9831360-4-6). Available http://www.ascecuba.org/publications/proceedings/volume23/pdfs/backer.pdf.
Foreword, in Nichola D. Gutgold, The Rhetoric of Supreme Court Women: From Obstacles to Options ix- xii (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2012) (ISBN 978-0-7391-7250-6 (cloth; —0 (Pbk; –7251-3 (electronic)).
The Proletarian Corporation: Organizing Cuban Economic Enterprises in the Wake of the Lineamientos—Property Rights Between Corporations, Cooperatives and Globalization, in Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 22:212-236 (2012).
Order, Discipline and Exigency”: Cuba’s VIth Party Congress, the Lineamientos (Guidelines) and Structural Change In Education, Sport and Culture?, in Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty-First Annual Meeting of the
Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 21:148-170 (2011); available http://www.ascecuba.org/publications/proceedings/volume21/pdfs/backer.pdf.
Globalization and the Socialist Multinational: Cuba and ALBA’s Grannacional Projects at the Intersection of Business and Human Rights, in Cuba in Transition: Papers and Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual Meeting of the
Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 20:230-252 (2010); available http://www.ascecuba.org/publications/proceedings/volume20/pdfs/backer.pdf. A later version was published in Political Economy of Change in Cuba, Proceedings of the International Symposium Cuba Futures: Past and Present (Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 31 March – 2 April 2011).
Globalizing Cuba: ALBA and the Construction of Socialist Global Trade Systems, Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 19:195-219 (2009); available http://www.ascecuba.org/publications/proceedings/volume19/pdfs/backermolina.pdf.
Remarks; The Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund: Between Private and Public, 40(4) Georgetown Journal of International Law 1271-1280 (2009).
Cuba and the Development of the Odious Debt Doctrine, Proceedings of the 18th Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 18:98-118 (2008), available http://www.ascecuba.org/publications/proceedings/volume18/pdfs/backer.pdf.
Symposium Introduction: Reifying Law—Rule of Law, Government, The State, and Transnational Governance, 26(3) Penn State International Law Review 511 (2008).
The Party as Polity, The Communist Party and the Chinese Constitutional State: A Theory of Party-State Constitutionalism, Conference Paper, Hong Kong City University, Oct., 2008.
Religion Clause Accommodation Doctrine, in Encyclopedia of the Supreme Court of the United States (MacMillan Reference USA, 2008) (IBN 9780028661247).
China: Law, Economy and Foreign Relations—A Symposium Introduction, 16(1) Journal of Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems 1 (2006).
Direct Shareholder Democracy: Reflections on Lucian Bebchuk, 2(3) The Corporate Governance Law Review (Australia, ISSN: 1449-9029) 375 (December 29, 2006).
Chinese Constitutionalism, Sange Daibiao (the “Three Represents”), and the Rule of Law, Foreign Theoretical Trends (2006) (in Mandarin).
Sarbanes-Oxley and the Federalization of Corporate Law, blog commentary sponsored by the New York University Journal of Law & Liberty, October 28, 2005, available at http://www.nyujll.org/blog/.
Corporate Surveillance After Sarbanes-Oxley, 26(1) The Company Lawyer 3 (Eng.) (2005).
Restraining Power from Below: The European Constitution’s Text and the Effectiveness of Protection of Member State Power Within the EU Framework, The Federal Trust for Education and Research Online Paper No. 15/04 (July, 2004) available at http://www.fedtrust.co.uk/eu_constitution.
A New Constitution For Europe – Symposium Transcript (Major Innovations of the Proposed New European Constitution Treaty), 23 Penn State International Law Review 1, 28-31 (2004) (Louis F. Del Duca, ed.).
Forward: Constituting Nations – Veils, Disguises, Masquerades, 20(2) Penn State International Law Review 329-338 (2002).
On Diversity: A Partial and Incomplete Wish List, Southern Poverty Law Center website, http://www.tolerance.org, Jan. 2003; American Association of Law Schools, Minority Groups Section Newsletter, Nov., 2002.
Politics: Political Culture, in Encyclopedia of the United States in the Nineteenth Century (2000).
Welfare Rights, Encyclopedia of the American Constitution (Leonard W. Levy et al., eds., 2000).
Punishing Frivolous Appeals and Staying Executions of Judgments After Enactment of H.B. 1468, in Appellate Practice and Procedure (OU-CLE publication 1994).
Considering Supersedeas, Stays of Execution and Appellate Sanctions in Light of the Recent Amendments to Oklahoma Law, in The New Oklahoma Judgments and Appeals Laws and the New Amendments to the Oklahoma Pleadings Code (OBA/CLE publication, 1993).
Corporate Acquisitions and Mergers (Byron E. Fox and Eleanor M. Fox, eds.) (New York: LexisNexis/Matthew Bender) (revisions author): Chapter 5A (Summary of Acquisition Methods); Chapter 5B (The Statutory Merger); Chapter 5C (Acquisition of Assets); Chapter 5D (Acquisitions of Stock); Chapter 5E (Tender Offers and Takeovers) (2007); Chapter 9 (Vertical Acquisitions); Chapter 23 (Registration and Disclosure Under the Securities Act of 1933) (2005); Chapter 24 (Exemptions From Registration Under the Securities Act of 1933) (2005); Chapter 25 (Reporting and Disclosure Requirements Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)(2005); Chapter 26 (Limitations on Resale and Market Manipulation) (2006); Chapter 27 (Liabilities under the Federal Securities Laws) (2006); Chapter 28 (Issuer Concerns in the Electronic Era)(2006.), Chapter 29 (Labor issues in Acquisitions), Chapter 30 (Brokers and Finders), Chapter 32 (Defined Benefit Plans in Acquisitions.
Business Organizations With Tax Planning (Zolman Cavitch, ed.) (New York: LexisNexis/Matthew Bender) (revisions author):
— Part V Business Organizations Other than Partnerships and Corporations, Chapter 40 (Partnership Associations) (2004); Chapter 41 (Joint Ventures) (2004); Chapter 42 (Joint Stock Companies) (2008); Chapter 43 (Business Trusts) (2008).
— Part VI, Corporations: Incorporation, Chapter 47 (Corporate Purposes and Powers: Ultra Vires) (2006); Chapter 47 App. (Statutory Citations) (2006); Chapter 48 (Corporate Liability) (2006); Chapter 63A (Foreign Corporations) (2008).
— Part X, Corporate Finance, Chapter 87 (Financing and Capitalization: Definitions and Concepts) (2002), Chapter 92A (Summary of Considerations in Initial Capitalization of a Corporation) (2006).
— Part XI, Securities Regulation, Chapter 94 (Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Overview; Registration of Securities) (2003); Chapter 94A (Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Reporting Requirements; Proxies) (2003).
–Part XI-A, Corporate Financial Accounting, Chapter 95 (Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Short-Swing Insider Trading; Tender Offers and Other Acquisitions) (2004); Chapter 95A (Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Fraud and Manipulation; SEC Enforcement) (2004); Chapter 96 (The SEC and Accounting and Auditing Standards) (2004).
— Part XVI: Corporations, Distributions of Control, Chapter 108 (Distribution of Corporate Control) (1995) (2004); Chapter 108A (Close Corporations ) (1995) (2004).
— Part XVII: Shareholders, Chapter 109 (Voting Rights of Shareholders) (1999); Chapter 110 (Proxy Voting) (1998); Chapter 111 (Voting Trusts) (1996/2005); Chapter 114 (Shareholder Agreements) (1998); Chapter 116 (Shareholders’ Right of Inspection) (1998).
— Part XX: Directors and Officers, Chapter 124 (Functions and Composition of the Board of Directors) (2003); Chapter 125 (Board Meetings) (2000/2003); Chapter 126 (Board Committees) (2000/2003); Chapter 127 (The Director’s Discretion and It’s Limits) (2000/2003); Chapter 128 (Officers) (2003).
— Part XXIV: Corporate Creditors, Chapter 155 (Receivers) (2002).
— Part XXV: Mergers and Acquisitions, Chapter 160 (Review of Methods of Buying and Selling Corporate Businesses) (2004); Chapter 161 (Review of Factors to be Considered in Selecting Form of Acquisition) (2002) (2004); Chapter 165 (Sales of Stock) (2000).