The Second Generation of Rule of Law Reform - Presentation & Networking Event

Rule of law approaches have been criticised by practitioners and scholars alike, either for their perceived lack of impact or insufficient contextual grounding. Responding to these criticisms, a second generation rule of law approach is emerging as an alternative to the conventional approaches in law and development interventions. This approach has been characterised involves complex interactions between various civic and state actors and values the importance of power structures, context, culture and other factors. Second generation approaches do not pay attention to formal structures alone. Informal and flexible structures are also recognised as significant.

INFAR and IDLO have invited like-minded colleagues in the field to hear reflections on these developments from the following two prominent scholars:

Kim Lane Scheppele is Lawrence S. Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at Princeton University and Visiting Scholar of INFAR. Her academic and advisory work covers an extensive range of rule of law and justice related questions.

Makau Mutua is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Former Dean at the University at Buffalo School of Law. His scholarship has addressed constitutional human rights and transitional justice questions concerning some of the most pressing dilemmas of our time.

Sanne Taekema will moderate the discussion. She is Professor of Jurisprudence at the Erasmus School of Law of Erasmus University Rotterdam and co-ordinator of the INFAR project.

This event is organised by the INFAR Project (Integrating Normative and Functional Approaches to Rule of Law and Human Rights) of the Erasmus University Rotterdam (http://esl.eur.nl/INFAR) and the Department of Research and Learning of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).