Network aims
The LDRN seeks to enhance knowledge and understanding of the role of law, both domestic and international, in relation to development and governance, as perceived globally and locally, and is therefore concerned with the social functioning of legal systems primarily in the context of countries in the Global South. It envisages that the LDRN community will engage in fruitful discussions from both orthodox and critical perspectives on the role of law in development.
LDRN’s main objective is to support and connect its members who are involved in academic research and teaching in the interdisciplinary and multi-level field of Law and Development (L&D).
Participants identifying themselves as working on Law and Development are welcomed. The network especially encourages research activities that focus on the connections between law and development, notably on ways legal systems, i.e. its rules, actors and processes, contribute to or undermine global development and social justice.
Activities
The Law and Development Research Network is engaged in the following activities:
The establishment and maintenance of an LDRN website, mailing list or other instrument of communication for the purpose of exchanging news from LDRN members and elsewhere about L&D research and teaching, publications, publication outlets, conferences, workshops, summer courses, Masters classes, jobs, scholarships…
The organisation of a L&D General Conference at regular intervals .
The organisation of a variety of activities such as trainings and thematic or regional workshops providing a forum for affiliated and other L&D scholars to interact. Special attention is given to events benefiting PhD and early career researchers
The promotion of special issues of existing journals on law and development.
Joint initiatives to engage with policy-makers, practitioners and activists both to learn about their work as well as to strengthen the knowledge base of such policies, programs and activist actions from an independent academic position.
Organisation
The Network comprises institutions of the global South and North undertaking research on law and development.
LDRN consists primarily of L&D researchers as individual members but welcomes partner institutions who are willing to take on certain responsibilities as an institution.