lawanddevelopment.org
exploring the links between law and economic development
About lawanddevelopment.org
This site aims to contribute to the understanding of linkages between legal issues and
social and economic progress, and strives to support an applicable concept of how law can aid economic development.
Global interactions increasingly rely on law to govern them.
Today, numerous rules apply to the interactions between states and non-state parties.
International courts and dispute settlement mechanisms have been set up to enforce compliance with commonly agreed norms.
International Law, however, is complex and often lacks universal acceptance. Worse, its influence is disproportionally strong on the poorest countries and countries in crisis. It is in situations of poverty and conflict where it has the most impact - for better or worse. International legal structures can provide security, stability and access to economic support, but they can just as easily prevent timely and adequate assistance. Development and humanitarian actors must increasingly be aware of their potential as well as their pitfalls.
Good Governance is easily prescribed, but must become a mindset of all involved to make the system work. Less and least developed countries are often governed by constitutions that are complex and inaccessible for their citizens. Without acceptance by their subjects, they weaken and cease to safeguard the nation state against failure. Development assistance must provide more than just models and institutions to move these countries forward.
International Law, however, is complex and often lacks universal acceptance. Worse, its influence is disproportionally strong on the poorest countries and countries in crisis. It is in situations of poverty and conflict where it has the most impact - for better or worse. International legal structures can provide security, stability and access to economic support, but they can just as easily prevent timely and adequate assistance. Development and humanitarian actors must increasingly be aware of their potential as well as their pitfalls.
Good Governance is easily prescribed, but must become a mindset of all involved to make the system work. Less and least developed countries are often governed by constitutions that are complex and inaccessible for their citizens. Without acceptance by their subjects, they weaken and cease to safeguard the nation state against failure. Development assistance must provide more than just models and institutions to move these countries forward.
lawanddevelopment.org aims to contribute to the global law and development movement. It was created by a group of graduates of the University of London's
»School of Oriental and African Studies
(SOAS) who share a strong interest in the concept. On lawanddevelopment.org we publish our original work; both academic writing from SOAS
and papers from our professional lifes. External contributors may be invited to add similar content.
This site is fully edited, and all contributions are chosen for their quality and relevance. Selected links to other sites on the web are provided in the individual sections. Only links to widely recognised public national or international organisations and initiatives are included. All rights for the documents on lawanddevelopment.org lie with the authors unless otherwise stated.
»Volker Hüls is editor and webmaster and is responsible for the content, the design, and the code of lawanddevelopment.org. The pictures from Afghanistan were kindly provided by »Kamala Janakiram. The editor aims to provide a unique repository of materials that explore the links between law and global economic development. Please get in touch for further information on any of the materials or links, and with suggestions for improvement or expansion of the site: »info@lawanddevelopment.org.
This site is fully edited, and all contributions are chosen for their quality and relevance. Selected links to other sites on the web are provided in the individual sections. Only links to widely recognised public national or international organisations and initiatives are included. All rights for the documents on lawanddevelopment.org lie with the authors unless otherwise stated.
»Volker Hüls is editor and webmaster and is responsible for the content, the design, and the code of lawanddevelopment.org. The pictures from Afghanistan were kindly provided by »Kamala Janakiram. The editor aims to provide a unique repository of materials that explore the links between law and global economic development. Please get in touch for further information on any of the materials or links, and with suggestions for improvement or expansion of the site: »info@lawanddevelopment.org.
