International Law from Southern Countries—Interdisciplinary and Critical Perspectives

Principle Investigator：Leila Choukroune

For the past 20 years, Professor Choukroune has been conducting research, working, and living in Southern countries, particularly in China, India, Asia, East Africa, and Latin America. Academic research and teaching aim to approach the formulation and practice of international law from a new modern perspective. In addition to postcolonial theory, subaltern studies, and the Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) methodology, this project integrates the voices of Southern countries, spanning from the past to the present, encompassing academia, practice, civil society, and business. It seeks to root itself in lived experiences, giving rise to a contemporary "critique of critique." This project aims to establish connections between fragmented disciplinary boundaries in international law, rejecting the concept of exceptionalism. By adopting an integrated and interdependent approach, it seeks to examine the impact of both countries and private actors. Furthermore, it emphasizes the central role of human rights within the legal framework. Moreover, this project will incorporate insights from other social sciences and encourage interdisciplinary and critical thinking on the concepts of rights and law. It will collaborate closely with researchers from Taiwan on relevant topics, including Asia, China, and Taiwan, further advancing the research mentioned above.