Invisible Institutionalisms: Collective Reflections on the Shadows of Legal Globalisation

This book explores the effects of legal globalization beyond the North-South binary, based on empirical studies in India, Pakistan, and Latin America. It challenges structural variables and calls for a space for critique.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This volume takes a fresh approach to examining the dynamics of globalization, challenging the notion that it solely represents a process of homogenization and resistance driven by the Global North. By shifting our lens beyond the North-South binary, the book seeks to explore what else we can observe. Drawing on empirical studies conducted in India, Pakistan, and Latin America, the book adopts an innovative format, featuring a relational dialogue between scholars from various fields and academic peripheries. It delves into the structural factors that operate in the shadows of legal globalization and questions how we, as scholars, can create a space for critical critique.

The book begins by acknowledging the theoretical and ideological calls to challenge globalization as a dynamic of homogenization and resistance, which have been primarily articulated from and directed against the Global North. It recognizes the need to expand our understanding of globalization beyond this binary perspective.

In order to achieve this, the book employs empirical studies of "frontier-zones of legal globalization" in India, Pakistan, and Latin America. These regions serve as focal points for examining the complex interplay between legal globalization, local contexts, and social dynamics. By focusing on these specific areas, the book aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the ways in which globalization is experienced and resisted.

The volume is structured as a relational dialogue between newer and more prominent scholars within the field of legal globalization. These scholars come from diverse backgrounds, including law, sociology, anthropology, and political science. Their contributions offer a rich tapestry of perspectives and methodologies, which contribute to the overall understanding of the topic.

One of the key themes that the book explores is the role of structural variables in shaping the dynamics of legal globalization. It questions how legal norms, institutions, and practices are influenced by global economic, political, and cultural forces. The book also examines how these structural factors interact with local contexts and social structures, leading to different outcomes and responses.

Another important aspect of the book is its consideration of how scholars can build a space for critique within the realm of legal globalization. It recognizes the need for a more reflexive and critical approach to studying globalization, which goes beyond simply documenting its effects or analyzing its mechanisms. The book encourages scholars to engage in reflexive practices, such as self-reflexivity, critical reflection, and interdisciplinary dialogue, in order to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities and contradictions of legal globalization.

Throughout the volume, the authors employ a range of empirical methods, including qualitative and quantitative analysis, to examine the data collected from their studies. They draw on a wide range of theoretical frameworks, including globalization theory, legal studies, and social theory, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

In conclusion, this volume offers a fresh and innovative approach to examining the dynamics of globalization. By shifting our lens beyond the North-South binary, it seeks to explore what else we can observe and understand. Through empirical studies in frontier-zones of legal globalization, the book provides a nuanced understanding of the ways in which globalization is experienced and resisted. It also encourages scholars to engage in critical critique and reflexive practices in order to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities and contradictions of legal globalization.

Weight: 648g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509930210