Reflections on the Future of Global Legal Studies

Abstract:This Article proposes a set of theoretical ideas and practical innovations for the future of global legal studies in the three areas that make up the academic profession: research, teaching, and service. The future directions of global legal studies will involve building intellectual bridges that connect law with global politics, society, history, religion, and human behavior. Constructing these bridges preserves global legal studies as both an interdisciplinary enterprise and a movement for justice. This twin commitment to rigorous inquiry and social justice involves sustaining a welcoming community for graduate students and early career scholars, and prioritizing the experiences of those living and working in the global South. In the long run, investigating the complex social, political, and legal dynamics associated with globalization involves paying close attention to the blurred boundaries between law, politics, and power.