Rule of Law: Theory and Practice

Attending the workshop were Ms. Jutta Frasch (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam), Dr. Michael Hanssler (Director of the Gerda-Henkel Foundation, Federal Republic of Germany), and many scientists from Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The theory of the "rule of law" has a long history of formation and development, from the rudimentary concepts and ideas that appeared in both the East and West in ancient times about a state that upholds the rule of law, respects and protects human beings, and is organized and operated scientifically and effectively, to modern theories of the "rule of law" ("Rechtsstaat", "L/état de Droit", "Rule of Law", etc.).

In this developmental process, the "rule of law" has evolved from mere ideas and theories into the practical organization and operation of many states and power institutions at the regional and global levels. It has become an important foundation and tool for resolving political, economic, cultural, security, and international cooperation issues, among others. The spirit of the rule of law has permeated relationships at national, regional, and global levels, contributing to shaping the way of thinking and behaving among stakeholders to ensure civil rights, human rights, and national rights, for the sustainable existence and development of all people, nations, and humanity as a whole. In this sense, the "rule of law" has transformed from a scientific asset into a shared cultural asset of humanity, requiring preservation, exploitation, supplementation, and development.

Germany has the honor of being one of the birthplaces of the concept and doctrine of the "rule of law" in modern and contemporary times. In the Constitution, as well as in the organization and operation of the Federal Republic of Germany today, many values ​​of the theory of the "rule of law" have been gradually realized. The research achievements on the "rule of law" by German scholars are of high scientific value and should be consulted.

In Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh was a pioneer in building a state where "everything must be governed by the rule of law." Particularly since the Mid-term Conference of the 7th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (1994), the issue of building a rule-of-law state has been raised and has increasingly become an important content in the process of political reform in Vietnam. To this day,A socialist rule of law state of the people, by the people, and for the people.The rule of law has been formed and is being gradually perfected in Vietnam, with a key milestone being the promulgation of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (amended in 2013). However, in the process of building a rule of law state in Vietnam, both theoretically and practically, many issues remain and need to be thoroughly addressed based on an interdisciplinary approach, especially a political science approach and drawing on the experiences of other countries.

In that sense, the seminar "Rule of Law: Theory and Practice" is a forum for German and Vietnamese scientists to exchange the latest research findings on the rule of law in history and the present, as well as lessons that can be learned by both sides.

The workshop was divided into four subcommittees: The Rule of Law from a Theoretical Perspective; The Rule of Law - Comparative Analysis; The Rule of Law in a Global Context; and The Rule of Law - International Cooperation Research.

The presentations at the conference focused on key issues: the history of the rule of law; the rule of law and fundamental law; the rule of law and the economy; the rule of law and society; and the rule of law and global governance.

Some specific topics discussed included: the socialist rule of law from a political science perspective; reflections on the content of law in a rule of law state from the perspective of JJ Rousseau's concept of the social contract; JJ Rousseau's ideas on the organization and control of state power; the rule of law state and global governance; the role of the press in building a rule of law state in Vietnam today; the rule of law in the global development of constitutionalism; the centralized state institutions during the early Le Dynasty - values ​​and historical lessons in building a rule of law state; the rule of law state and the Vietnamese constitution; the fight against corruption from the perspective of Ho Chi Minh's ideology…