CALL FOR PAPERS
Special Issue – Politics (Sage Publications)
The Politics of International Law: Perceptions and Realities in the Global
South
Guest Editor: Douglas de Castro, School of Law, Lanzhou University (China)
1. Introduction
This special issue seeks to explore the multifaceted and often contentious relationship
between international law and the Global South. While international law is, in principle, a
universal framework for global governance, its historical development, core tenets, and
contemporary application have been subject to significant critique from scholars and
practitioners in the Global South. This special issue will provide a platform for innovative
research that examines the "politics" of international law, moving beyond purely legalistic
analyses to interrogate the power dynamics, historical legacies, and diverse perceptions
that shape its role and impact in the non-Western world.
The special issue will bring together scholars who are engaged in cutting-edge research
on how international law is understood, experienced, contested, and re-shaped in
different regions of the Global South. By focusing on the "perceptions" of international
law, we aim to highlight the agency of actors in the Global South, not merely as recipients
of a pre-existing legal order, but as active participants in its interpretation, application,
and transformation.
This special issue directly aligns with the aims and scope of Politics. It is a generalist project
that speaks to a broad audience of academic researchers, teachers, and practitioners in
politics and international studies. It will publish original research that is both empirically
rich and theoretically innovative, contributing to ongoing debates on postcolonialism,
decolonization, global justice, and the future of global governance. By challenging
conventional, Eurocentric understandings of international law, the special issue will push
the boundaries of the field and offer new perspectives on some of the most pressing
global challenges of our time.
2. Potential Research Questions
We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following research
questions:
• How have historical legacies of colonialism and imperialism shaped contemporary
perceptions and practices of international law in the Global South?
• In what ways do actors in the Global South (states, non-state actors, social
movements) contest, resist, or appropriate international legal norms and
institutions?
• What are the politics of international criminal justice, and how are institutions like
the International Criminal Court perceived in different parts of the Global South?
• How do regional organizations and legal frameworks in the Global South interact
with, and sometimes challenge, the universalist claims of international law?
• What is the role of international law in addressing issues of economic inequality,
development, and environmental justice in the Global South?
• How do different theoretical approaches, including postcolonial, decolonial, and
Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), help us to understand the
politics of international law in the Global South?
• What are the pedagogical challenges and opportunities in teaching international
law in a way that is critical and inclusive of perspectives from the Global South?
• How can we move towards a more pluralistic and just international legal order that
is genuinely responsive to the needs and aspirations of all peoples?
3. Contribution to the Field
This special issue will make a significant contribution to the field by:
• Centering the Global South: Providing a much-needed platform for voices and
perspectives that have been historically marginalized in the study of international
law.
• Advancing Theoretical Debates: Engaging with and advancing critical and
postcolonial theories of international law.
• Promoting Methodological Pluralism: Encouraging a wide range of
methodological approaches, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-
methods research.
• Bridging Academia and Practice: Offering insights that are relevant not only to
academic debates but also to policymakers, legal practitioners, and activists
working on issues of global justice.
• Challenging Existing Paradigms: Encouraging a critical rethinking of the
foundations and future of international law in a multipolar world.
4. Submissions
Interested contributors can send 1) the title of the paper; 2) an abstract (150 words),
and a short bio (40 words) to [email protected].
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: AUGUST 15, 2025
