Decolonisation and Legal Knowledge: Reflections on Power and Possibility

The law plays a significant role in perpetuating racialized hierarchies and global disparities, and this book explores the meanings of decolonization and its implications for teaching, researching, and practicing law. It examines how colonial thought and the commodification of bodies and space-time are embedded in the foundations of law and proposes ways to produce legal knowledge for flourishing futures through decolonization.

Format: Hardback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: Bristol University Press

The law plays a significant role in the establishment, perpetuation, and reproduction of racialized hierarchies that result in and uphold profound global disparities and injustices. This indispensable book delves into the exploration of the meanings of decolonization, with the aim of informing teaching, research, and practice in the legal field. It uncovers the intricate connections between the foundations of law and colonial thought, as well as its [re]production of notions regarding the commodification of bodies and space-time. Consequently, this book serves as an exploration of the potential avenues through which theories and practices of decolonization can be employed to generate legal knowledge that contributes to the flourishing of future societies.
The law is intricately intertwined with the formation, sustenance, and perpetuation of racialized hierarchies, which perpetuate acute global disparities and injustices. In this essential book, the author examines the meanings of decolonization and explores how this examination can inform teaching, research, and practice in the legal field. The book delves into the ways in which the foundations of law are entangled in colonial thought and its [re]production of ideas related to the commodification of bodies and space-time. By undertaking this exploration, the book aims to shed light on the potential avenues through which theories and practices of decolonization can be employed to generate legal knowledge that contributes to the flourishing of future societies.

The author emphasizes the need to decolonize legal knowledge and pedagogy to challenge the dominant narratives that perpetuate colonialism and oppression. They argue that the law has been used to justify and maintain colonial power structures, and that decolonization requires a shift in perspective and approach to legal education and practice. The book explores various theories and practices of decolonization, including decoloniality, indigenous law, and anti-racism. It also examines the role of the legal profession in perpetuating colonialism and the need for lawyers to engage in critical self-reflection and anti-racist practice.

The author argues that decolonization is not just a theoretical concept but a practical imperative that requires a commitment to social justice, equality, and human rights. They suggest that legal education and practice should be rooted in the principles of decolonization, including the recognition of the diversity of cultures and the importance of indigenous knowledge systems. The book also provides practical examples and case studies of decolonization in the legal field, including the struggles of indigenous communities for land rights, the recognition of gender and sexual diversity, and the fight against racial discrimination.

In conclusion, this book is a valuable resource for legal educators, researchers, and practitioners who are committed to challenging the dominant narratives of colonialism and oppression. It provides a comprehensive examination of the meanings of decolonization and explores how this examination can inform teaching, research, and practice in the legal field. The author's commitment to social justice, equality, and human rights makes this book a powerful tool for promoting decolonization and creating a more just and equitable world.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 160 x 241 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529219371