At World’s End: Palestine, the ICJ, and a New Dawn in International Law explores how South Africa v Israel marks the end of the settler-colonial era and the impunity Euroamerica wielded over international law. 🧵coming tomorrow
I don’t even have the ability to formulate a clever condemnation of what Israel and its enablers are doing to these children. Stunting them for life and starving them to death?! What kind of sociopath would still cling to the canard of self-defence?
Children suffering from malnutrition in Gaza will be stunted for life, "if they survive,"
@unicefchief
says. "It's a painful, painful death for children."
In maternity wards, "babies don't even have the energy to cry. It's a devastating thing to see," she says.
What stood out in South Africa’s intervention was their humanity. Each member of their team went beyond presenting a legal case and, instead, offered a genuine expression of sympathy for the suffering of the Palestinians and solidarity with their struggle. 1/
In 20 years of legal work, I've known judges to make some dubious remarks. Today’s declaration from Judge Barak is the most reprehensible I have encountered. This isn’t just moral bankruptcy; it’s a plunge into judicial depravity that should sicken the court, if not the world.
Now that Israel has destroyed *all* the universities in Gaza, will British and European universities establish a scholars-at-risk programme for displaced Palestinian academics? I know the answer but it’s something sympathetic scholars can advocate for. ✊🏾
Does anti-colonialism belong in international legal education? I believe so, but I have my doubts. Interested in knowing why I hesitate? Please read my latest piece on
@opiniojuris
. Frankly, I really enjoyed writing this one.
As part of the Other Universals lectures series, I will speak about Decolonisation, Africa, and International Law on 17 August 2022, 15-1700 SAST. Thanks for joining and sharing!
Sharing some exciting personal news: The University of the West Indies has appointed me Dean of the Faculty of Law, Cave Hill campus. Needless to say—but I’ll say it anyway—I’m thrilled! The UWI, just like the Caribbean region, is a hotbed of pre-colonial, anti-colonial, and
“You talk and talk and give us lovely words.…we’ve never seen a people go so hungry, so absolutely in modern history. We’ve never seen children pushed into malnutrition so quickly. This is on your watch.” Scathing words from
@MichaelFakhri
calling out the inaction of the UNHRC
My remarks a few weeks ago to the
@UN_HRC
on Gaza. The international community has done nothing to prevent Israel's campaign on genocide and starvation. The world's governments are complicit. It is time to sanction Israel to ensure an immediate ceasefire.
'In extending our hands across the miles to the people of Palestine, we do so with the full knowledge that we are part of a humanity that is at one.' Ronald Lamola's quoting of Mandela perfectly encapsulated the essence of their intervention.
Today begins
@opiniojuris
' symposium on
#racism
and
#sexism
in legal academia. Each contribution will provoke and inspire. I open the series with 'The Promise of Victory' detailing the lessons I've learned in the struggle. Thanks for reading and sharing.
"Must International Legal Pedagogy Remain Eurocentric?" is now available
@AsianJIL
(11 AJIL 176). Thanks to the editors! If your library does not subscribe to the journal, you can download a pre-edited version at . As always, thanks for sharing!
My latest on
@opiniojuris
: Subverting Racism in International Law Scholarship. Dedicated to
@JTGathii
. Relevant to all anti-racist legal thinkers.
International law promises justice but accepts Palestinian suffering. Why the disconnect? My latest essay looks at anti-Palestinian racism and its impact on epistemic (in)justice.
I'm thrilled to launch Fresh Squeezed,
@opiniojuris
's new podcast!! Multi-lingual, multi-epistemic, and multi-modal. Commentary on all things international from the 'actual' international. Thanks for sharing!
#freshsqueezedOJ
My latest essay
@opiniojuris
: Tackling White Ignorance in International Law - "How Much Time Do You Have? It's Not Enough". I use the work of Charles Mills to critique the erasure of debates about race and racism from our discipline.
Personal news: after an edifying stint as Dean at the UWI, I’m back in the UK and will spend 21-22 at
@UCLLaws
. I'm excited to meet new colleagues and students, and to advance my research and teaching in a stimulating environment (shame about the weather ;). Post-interview pic :)
Disappointed to see a supposed 'worldly' book on teaching PIL omit diverse voices. It reflects a Eurocentric bias I've tackled in 'Must International Legal Pedagogy Remain Eurocentric?' Link below and DM me for a copy.
#twail
This book brings together a large number of international lawyers from all over the world presenting the state of the art of Teaching International Law.
What's the relationship between race, gender, and academic publishing in international law? Why are scholars from the Global South underrepresented? Please read
@tdesouzadias
@opiniojuris
to find out why and what we can do about it.
Does international law hold any value in the Palestinian liberation struggle? Some reflections on Palestine,
#twail
, and anti-colonialism, in conversation with
@4noura
. Her podcast on
@opiniojuris
will be available on 12 October!
#freshsqueezedOJ
WEB Du Bois,
#TWAIL
, and the rehumanisation of the world (ambitious, yes :). Thanks to the
@IndonesianJIL
for publishing my article in their TWAIL issue (open access!). Shout out to
@CIL_TRILA
for pushing critical IL scholarship scholarship across Asia.
Decolonisation ✊🏿 vs Decolonisation 🤬 vs Decolonisation 🤔
Our article (
@shaimabdelkarim
) on decolonisation and international law will satisfy 2 of the above...though I still urge the 3rd to read it ;)
Available now open access (thanks
@UCLLaws
) at
Of Anti-Colonialism and International Legal Pedagogy: Can We Visualise a Post-Westphalian World? My latest for
@opiniojuris
. I describe an attempt to revamp my teaching of sovereignty in PIL, including the mistakes I made along the way!
Call for Submissions! Confronting Systemic Racism and Sexism in Legal Academia. To all law colleagues and students struggling against racism, sexism, and other forms of bias, I invite you to participate in this
@opiniojuris
symposium. Thanks for sharing.
Henceforth, I will begin my lectures on international law with this clip. The terror on these children’s faces perfectly encapsulates the depravity of eurocentrism and its associated “legality”
The heartbreaking moment two young siblings are reunited with their toddler sister after Israel bombs their house. The little boy has to identify the little toddler and give her name to the medics. Their parents were presumably killed by Israel.
With bombs provided by Biden.
Pleased to share my latest article: "The Necessity of Imagination: Using The Counterfactual Method to Overcome International Law's Epistemological Limitations". Even more pleased that
@NLSIRev
published it open access. & (issue)
Happy to share my latest blogpost - 'Setting Sail: Tales of an Academic Nomad' - and news of a promotion and career move! As of next month, I will be Reader and Associate Dean of Learning & Teaching
@XJTLU
@opiniojuris
#twail
#decolonisation
Is decolonisation useful to the transformation of international legal education? Delighted to share my latest article, co-authored with
@shaimabdelkarim
: "Decolonising the Curriculum in International Law: Entrapments in Praxis and Critical Thought" forthcoming in Law & Critique.
Ever wonder where race fits into (y)our thinking about international law? Please see my latest post
@opiniojuris
co-authored w
@AtaRHindi
&
@C_LSmith
.
Includes a call for contributions for an upcoming collection!
Excited to speak on decolonisation to
@VVI_Leiden
as part of their 'Reconsidering the Socio-Legal Gaze' series. 13 Jan at 1330 CET. Registration details below. Thanks for attending / sharing.
My latest piece
@opiniojuris
. I argue that money and misery are key analytic concepts in the study of international law. Thanks for reading / sharing.
TWAIL pedagogy! What is it and how can it help you ‘unlearn’ colonial ways of teaching international law? Read my latest blogpost, co-written with
@rafquigod
, to find out.
#twail
#decolonisation
What total performative BS this is.
With one hand US airdrops 38,000 meal packs…while the other hand continues to provide Israel with the arms, munitions and funds required to sustain this conflict.
Performative BS. It fools no one.
Wondering if you should pursue a master's / PhD? Looking for tips to avoid seeing your soul crushed? See my latest post
@opiniojuris
. Part 1 of a 3-part series.
thanks for reading and sharing.
I wrote a piece about international law and its perpetuation of anti-black racism. Feedback welcome, especially from those who want to collaborate on eradicating it. “I Can’t Breathe”: Confronting the Racism of International Law
Wondering how to maintain a critical disposition in the virtual classroom? See this week’s symposium on
@opiniojuris
: Saving Critical International Legal Pedagogy from Formalists, Reactionaries, and Pandemics
#critical
#twail
Is Foreign Direct Investment a blessing or a grift for the Third World?
@rafquigod
and I published our thoughts on
@opiniojuris
as part of a symposium we are coordinating. Stay tuned for more hard-hitting posts this week!
#twail
'Racial Capitalism and the Dialectics of Development: Exposing the Limits and Lies of International Economic Law' forthcoming in
@LawAndCritique
. I co-wrote this with
@C_LSmith
and love the title (the article too :)! A short thread on what to expect 1/
“The state of Palestine appeals to the court … to guide us towards a future in which Palestinian children are treated as children, and not as a demographic threat.” A stark reflection of the global order's racism; someone actually has to plead for this.
The struggle for decolonisation continues. I'm speaking tomorrow about decolonising the curriculum
@aberdeenuni
and will circulate a recording for those who can't attend / missed the last event
@VVI_Leiden
#twail
#Decolonisation
Doctoral education is undergoing a revolution. Internationals, decolonisation, and AI opened up a world of creativity and imagination for early career scholars. Check out my latest blog on the changing landscape of knowledge production!
Thanks to the Faculty of Law at
#sciencespo
including Omar Kamel, Alain Pottagve, and Helene Alviar for inviting me to speak on Racial Capitalism and International Economic Law. It was a enriching visit and I relished the muscular questions colleagues posed! A few pictures...
@luigidaniele10
I can’t help but contrast these images with those of Israeli soldiers riding tricycles or pawing lingerie. Oh, and
@KarimKhanQC
waxing on about a new environmental action.
Thinking about pursing a masters or a PhD in law / social sciences? Already enrolled, but suffering the experience? You might find the final part of my series on PG studies helpful.
#AcademicTwitter
When decolonising law schools, we must reflect on substance AND symbols. As Carpenter explains, the over-representation of men in our spaces is a sledgehammer to the self-confidence of women. Some traditions are best laid to rest.
@opiniojuris
Disappointing and troubling to see
@KarimKhanQC
substitute ‘The Occupied Palestinian Territories’ with ‘The State of Palestine’ solely to avoid mentioning the
#occupation
#ICC
Prosecutor
@KarimKhanQC
concludes first visit to
#Israel
and State of
#Palestine
by an ICC Prosecutor: “We must show that the law is there, on the front lines, and that it is capable of protecting all”. ⤵️
Call for Submissions! We're running a symposium on Opinio Juris: "Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean: Blessing or Hyperbole?" We seek contributions that problematise the character of FDI both legally and socio-legally. Details attached. Share widely.
Was off twitter for a day and returned to find my co-blogger
@Alonso_GD
accused of racial hatred for the word gringo. I’m sure this has nothing to do with his consistent and effective support for Palestinian liberation from Israeli occupation. Nope, nothing at all. Solidarity
From today, the majority of foreign university students cannot bring family members to the UK.
In 2024, we’re already delivering for the British people.
'I don't think there's any part of international law that isn't integrated and fully embedded within capitalism.' Fascinating statement and interview with
@Margot_Salomon
in
@opiniojuris
' latest episode of
#freshsqueezed
. Thanks for sharing!
Are you or someone you know thinking about reading law in the UK? If so, join me next month for a taster lecture courtesy of
@UCLLaws
. I’ve entitled mine: “When should you (dis)obey the law?” 😎
Interested in studying law at university? 🎓
@DiscoverUCL
is hosting two Laws Masterclasses on the 17 & 18 February, delivered by Dr
@alattar_mohsen
and Dr Alan Brener.
Find out more - including how to apply and eligibility criteria 👇
Post-colonial thought and action. Being invited to lead the Law Faculty is an honour that I did not imagine being bestowed upon me (even in my hyperbolic dreams). To my current colleagues and students, a luta continua.
I confess I feel powerless in the face of Israel’s barbaric campaign against the Palestinians. At least as an academic I can contribute to the ontological struggle. Thanks to
@4noura
and
@OmarKamelPod
.
Tomorrow, I speak on the (il)legality of occupation under IL, focusing on the conflagration in Palestine. Thanks to Nawal Hend,
@JindalGlobalUNI
, and other panelists. Live on youtube on 23 June at 1400 London, 1500 Cairo, 1600 Al Quds. Welcome!
1/ Call for Papers!
African leaders align with Palestine. This solidarity is rooted in shared experiences of colonial oppression and the pursuit of dignity and self-determination.
What lessons have I learned in my first year as dean of a law faculty? Plenty! Thanks for reading and sharing. I hope law colleagues and students find the essay informative. It’s been a rollercoaster!
#AcademicTwitter
Thomas Kuhn and baba ghanoush can help you complete your master's / PhD. I mean it. Learn how in my latest post on PG studies for
@opiniojuris
. Thanks for reading / sharing!
#AcademicTwitter
Honoured that my essay is included in this symposium (though last billing is both blessing and curse!). The contributions are impressive, and I can’t wait to read each of them. Congratulations to
@CIL_TRILA
and
@afronomicslaw
for curating.
This is surreal. One minute, we witness the compassionate efforts of aid workers feeding those Israel is starving and, the next, we’re confronted with images of their mutilated bodies. How many horrific attacks must we suffer before
@KarimKhanQC
takes action?
🚨Zomi & Chef Oli's last video shows them cooking meals for Gaza's hungry in
@WCKitchen
.
They were killed today by Israeli warplanes in
#Gaza
, in disregard of international laws, echoing the daily killings of Palestinian civilians in Gaza over the past 177 days.
#GazaGenocid
@opiniojuris
has re-issued a call for submissions on confronting racism / sexism in legal academia. Thanks for reading, sharing, and participating.
#AcademicTwitter
- we killed the UN workers because they’re Hamas
- we killed ambulance medics because they’re Hamas
- we killed journalists because they’re Hamas
- we’re killing information too because it’s Hamas
Israel’s ‘right to defend itself’ in all its glory
"Many
@UNRWA
workers in Gaza are themselves members of Hamas. The time has come to bust the myth of UN supplied facts"
The Israeli representative at the United Nations launches a tirade against the UN, UN agencies, UN workers and UN officials
Decolonisation, Africa, and International Law: Two Frames of Epistemic Violence is now available on YouTube! Thanks to
@chr_flagship
for inviting me to participate in this vital project. Engagement from the audience was electrifying!
Legal academia is challenging for everyone, but especially for racialised women. Solidarity networks are vital in navigating the morass. This final piece in
@opiniojuris
' symposium on systemic racism/sexism is an inspiring story of support and solidarity.
I woke up to a positive decision from the
@AsianJIL
. Get a load of this: " We would also like to add a note -- we are so happy with your contribution! A wonderful paper -- sharp, informative, strong thesis, and very well-written...
While the sentiment is welcome, Borrell implies Europe is ‘not’ arming Israel. Rather than call out the Americans, which is meaningless, he could have challenged the UK, French, Germans, etc weapons transfers to Israel. But that’s the difference between performance and ethic
Wow, logic and reason from Europe, it's been a while! And it comes from "garden v jungle" Borrell, who's unexpectedly proven one of the only sane European voices over Gaza.
Here he states the obvious:
"Let's be logical: how many times have you heard the
“This open letter underscores the gravity of the situation, pinpointing multiple instances where the state of Israel appears to have breached international law, in full public view and frequently with the endorsement of a certain political class.”
I just ran a workshop on critical scholarship for scholars from across the African continent. Began with Marquez's magic realism, segued into Du Bois' double-consciousness, and peppered the whole with
@AdelleBlackett
's critical introspection. I'd say I went full
#TWAIL
;)
Thank you
@alattar_mohsen
for a great & inspiring session on “writing from the Global South - A TWAIL perspective on publishing in competitive international journals”. This was session 3 of our
@BritishAcademy_
Writing Workshop; we are building that community!
@DerbyUniPress
Following a bizarro year, I’ve decided to celebrate my birthday with a new pen, a trusted book, and a poetic bookmark.
#unapologeticnerd
(and you haven’t seen my socks ;)
Overall, Americans took 9/11 pretty calmly. Notably, there wasn't a mass outbreak of anti-Muslim sentiment and violence, which could all too easily have happened. And while GW Bush was a terrible president, to his credit he tried to calm prejudice, not feed it 2/
@UWI_LawFac
is hiring! Superb place to work and I hear the dean’s alright.
We will consider legal scholars in all areas. We have special interest in taxation, banking, development, environment, and health.
Please share widely and DM questions.
Excited to share my latest article: "Tales of Economic Warfare and the Plunder of Venezuela". The saga surrounding the legal disappearance of fourteen tonnes of Venezuelan gold makes for riveting reading (hopefully the article does too ;).
I’m ecstatic to be a part of this initiative! We nurture decolonisation through praxis and dialogue. Bring on both! Thanks to the organisers of the
@GlobalSouthInit
We have two more superb pieces as part of
@opiniojuris
' Symposium on on FDI and investment Law in Latin America and the Caribbean. The first is from
@SierraJimena
on Mining in Colombia
Today I spoke at DeMonfort University about the relationship between decolonisation, sustainability, and inclusion. I'm thrilled they are pursuing a decolonising agenda and welcomed the invitation from
@OhioOmiunu
(thanks to co-panelists
@BabsFagbayibo
and Dr Frank). Thread
Substitute “defend itself” with “exact revenge” every time the political class seeks to absolve Israel of the barbarism it perpetrates against Palestinians
“Do you think cutting off food, water and electricity is within international law?”
Labour’s shadow attorney general
@EmilyThornberry
is asked on
#newsnight
. Her answer;
“I think that Israel has an absolute right to defend itself against terrorists”
That Israel describes petitions to the UN as “diplomatic terrorism” shows how empty their accusation are. They’ll soon tell us that eating is “nutritional terrorism” or seeing a dr is “medical terrorism”. To zionists, short of dying, everything Palestinians do is nefarious.
Human rights + anti-racism / anti-sexism + law schools = structural transformation.
@maryhhansel
and Ashleigh Hayden explain how law profs can use the HR framework to decolonise curricula, counter hate speech, and upend racial profiling.
@opiniojuris
From AI's impact on learning to the double-standards on Ukraine and Palestine, 2023 was a momentous year in university education. My latest essay explores what this might mean for students and academics going forward
Interested in 🇨🇳’s relationship to international law? Listen to this new episode of FreshSqueezed! Cai Congyan covers the ‘unruly’ order, Chinese philosophy, Chinese exceptionalism, and epistemic diversity in legal scholarship.
#twail
Do
#ICJ
judges tune into the news? Curious if they'll wonder how COGAT's power cuts to critical patients aligns with Israel's celebration of its supposed humanitarian impulse.
Power cut off inside the al Aqsa hospital, leaving the intensive care unit in darkness as doctors warned patients would soon die if electricity was not restored.
Read more 🔗
“Palestinians must be given the choice between starvation and ethnic cleansing” is a dubious suggestion by anyone but doubly offensive for a UNSR. I encourage this colleague to recant their assault on the rights of Palestinians and for other special rapporteurs to disavow it.
Galit Raguan's claims about COGAT's support would be more convincing if I could forget the organisation’s head vowing to withhold life essentials as a part of Israel's humanitarian mission in Gaza
ICJ hearing: the Court should re-read this by Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, head of COGAT: "Human animals must be treated as such. There will be no electricity and no water [in Gaza], there will only be destruction. You wanted hell, you will get hell.”
I was struck by this compelling piece by
@pennyjgreen
& Raz Segal on Israel's alleged genocidal intent. The demonisation of the victim is a tactic with a disturbing historical precedent.