International course on legal pluralism, University of Manchester
1 - 4 August 2013

Overview
In August 2013 the Commission on Legal Pluralism will organize a course in Manchester, UK, about theories, knowledge and methodologies of legal pluralism. The purpose of the 3½-day course, which precedes the IUAES 17th World Congress, is to familiarize the participants with the current international debates and insights in socio-legal studies and legal pluralism and to offer them a comparative perspective allowing them to rethink their own research and practical work. At the center of the discussion will be issues pertaining to rights protection, gender, natural resource management and land tenure, and dispute management in the context of globalizing economic, political and legal developments.

Participation is limited to 25 people to allow for maximum discussion. The participants are academics and/or practitioners, e.g. NGO activists or government officials, who deal with issues related to legal pluralism, informal justice systems and social justice in their academic or professional work. As in past courses, (held amongst others in Wellington (New Zealand), Accra (Ghana), Williamsburg (USA), Moscow (Russia), Chiang Mai (Thailand), Fredericton (Canada), Jakarta (Indonesia), Zurich (Switzerland), and Cape Town (South Africa)) the teaching team will consist of senior academics of various backgrounds drawn from the Commission on Legal Pluralism and colleagues from the host country, in this case from the United Kingdom. The course will give participants an opportunity to discuss their work with fellow participants and the teaching staff, and directly engage with leading scholars and practitioners in their fields, allowing them to become part of a growing international network.

 

Topics for the course will include:
• Theoretical and methodological aspects of legal pluralism
• Legal empowerment, gender and human rights
• Natural resources management and governance
• Land tenure and customary law
• Rights of indigenous communities and economic development
• Informal justice and policing
• Access to justice, legal reform and the role of international development agencies

 

Selection
Prospective students should be either young scholars studying for a JD or PhD degree or having just finished one, or more senior scholars who are relatively new to the field of legal pluralism, or they should be practitioners whose work is directly related to topics discussed in the course.

 

Tuition

Participants must demonstrate a level of proficiency in English that allows them to read and actively discuss relevant academic literature. Students will be selected based on their motivation to join the course.

 

Funding

The course fee is 250 USD. The participants will be responsible for the cost of their airfare, accommodation, meals and local transportation. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, this year the Commission will not be able to provide any travel subsidies for the students participating in the course. However, a limited number of tuition waivers will be awarded to students from low and lower middle income countries who demonstrate extreme financial need.

 

Application
Individuals interested in participating in the course are kindly invited to apply by 15 May 2013. The application should include a cover letter, brief curriculum vitae, and evidence of English proficiency. Applicants who would like to be considered for a tuition waiver should indicate their request in the cover letter. Applications should be emailed to Yüksel Sezgin at turkeypm@hotmail.com. Applicants will be notified of their admission decision by 1 June 2013.