Evolution of the Industrial Revolutions and International Law: from mechanization to the regulatory challenges of the 4.0 Revolution
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Abstract
This article examines the evolution of industrial revolutions and their influence on international law, from initial mechanization to the challenges of the digital age. The First Industrial Revolution spurred the consolidation of the first humanitarian treaties and international technical agreements, linking technological progress with the need for legal regulation. The Second Industrial Revolution, marked by electricity and mass production, generated an expansion of norms surrounding intellectual property, labor rights, and the limitations of mechanized warfare. The Third Industrial Revolution, characterized by automation and the expansion of information technology, strengthened an international institutional framework that included the United Nations and specialized agencies, along with new environmental, economic, and human rights regimes. Revolution 4.0, defined by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digitalization, poses unprecedented challenges to state sovereignty, human dignity, and legal accountability, highlighting the inadequacy of traditional regulatory frameworks. Debates are emerging regarding autonomous weapons, algorithmic governance, and digital trade, which require adaptive and polycentric regulations. Finally, Revolution 5.0 proposes a human-centric and sustainable paradigm that seeks to reorient technological development toward global justice, intergenerational equity, and the protection of digital rights. Overall, it concludes that the transition from fragmented international law to flexible and polycentric governance is imperative to effectively respond to contemporary technological challenges, preserving peace, justice, and fundamental rights in an increasingly complex global landscape