LCP4801
Assignment 2 Semester 2 2025
2 2025
Unique Number:
Due date: September 2025
QUESTION 1
1.1 What does the acronym TWAIL stand for?
TWAIL stands for Third World Approaches to International Law. It is a scholarly and activist
movement that challenges the dominant structures and ideologies of international law,
particularly its historical role in maintaining imperial and colonial hierarchies. The acronym
reflects a critical lens through which international legal systems are examined, especially as
they affect countries of the Global South.1
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen as a
replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged to perform
their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in
these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content. The buyer is
responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when applying it to their
assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's policies
regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and sources of
inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may be considered
academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences arising from
the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or any other negative
consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
QUESTION 1
1.1 What does the acronym TWAIL stand for?
TWAIL stands for Third World Approaches to International Law. It is a scholarly and
activist movement that challenges the dominant structures and ideologies of
international law, particularly its historical role in maintaining imperial and colonial
hierarchies. The acronym reflects a critical lens through which international legal
systems are examined, especially as they affect countries of the Global South.1
1.2 What informed the development of the TWAIL movement?
The development of TWAIL was informed by a reaction against the perceived
imperial legacy of international law. Scholars and thinkers from the Global South
argued that while international law claimed to promote universal norms and equality
among states, it in fact originated largely from European legal traditions and political
experiences. This led to the marginalisation of non-Western legal systems and
traditions.2 The TWAIL movement emerged in response to the formal equality
granted to newly independent states after decolonisation, which failed to address
substantive inequality in global governance, economic dependency, and political
sovereignty.3 TWAIL scholars also highlight the continued domination of developing
states through structures such as the veto power of permanent UN Security Council
members, the interventionist policies of Bretton Woods institutions, and the
unchecked influence of multinational corporations in the Global South.4
1.3 What are the objectives of TWAIL
The TWAIL movement seeks to:
Expose and challenge the legacy of colonialism and imperialism in
international law;
1
H Strydom et al, International Law, 3rd ed. (Oxford University Press, 2025) 52 .
2
University of South Africa, International Law: Only Study Guide for LCP4801 (2025) 47.
3
H Strydom et al, International Law, 3rd ed. (Oxford University Press, 2025) 47–48.
4
University of South Africa, International Law: Only Study Guide for LCP4801 (2025) 48.
Assignment 2 Semester 2 2025
2 2025
Unique Number:
Due date: September 2025
QUESTION 1
1.1 What does the acronym TWAIL stand for?
TWAIL stands for Third World Approaches to International Law. It is a scholarly and activist
movement that challenges the dominant structures and ideologies of international law,
particularly its historical role in maintaining imperial and colonial hierarchies. The acronym
reflects a critical lens through which international legal systems are examined, especially as
they affect countries of the Global South.1
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen as a
replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged to perform
their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in
these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content. The buyer is
responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when applying it to their
assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's policies
regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and sources of
inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may be considered
academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences arising from
the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or any other negative
consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
QUESTION 1
1.1 What does the acronym TWAIL stand for?
TWAIL stands for Third World Approaches to International Law. It is a scholarly and
activist movement that challenges the dominant structures and ideologies of
international law, particularly its historical role in maintaining imperial and colonial
hierarchies. The acronym reflects a critical lens through which international legal
systems are examined, especially as they affect countries of the Global South.1
1.2 What informed the development of the TWAIL movement?
The development of TWAIL was informed by a reaction against the perceived
imperial legacy of international law. Scholars and thinkers from the Global South
argued that while international law claimed to promote universal norms and equality
among states, it in fact originated largely from European legal traditions and political
experiences. This led to the marginalisation of non-Western legal systems and
traditions.2 The TWAIL movement emerged in response to the formal equality
granted to newly independent states after decolonisation, which failed to address
substantive inequality in global governance, economic dependency, and political
sovereignty.3 TWAIL scholars also highlight the continued domination of developing
states through structures such as the veto power of permanent UN Security Council
members, the interventionist policies of Bretton Woods institutions, and the
unchecked influence of multinational corporations in the Global South.4
1.3 What are the objectives of TWAIL
The TWAIL movement seeks to:
Expose and challenge the legacy of colonialism and imperialism in
international law;
1
H Strydom et al, International Law, 3rd ed. (Oxford University Press, 2025) 52 .
2
University of South Africa, International Law: Only Study Guide for LCP4801 (2025) 47.
3
H Strydom et al, International Law, 3rd ed. (Oxford University Press, 2025) 47–48.
4
University of South Africa, International Law: Only Study Guide for LCP4801 (2025) 48.
