LCP4801 Assignment 2
(COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 2 2025 - DUE
September 2025
For assistance contact
Email:
, Question 1: The TWAIL Movement
1.1 What does the acronym TWAIL stand for?
The acronym TWAIL stands for Third World Approaches to International Law. It is a body
of scholarship and a movement that critiques international law from the perspective of
developing and formerly colonized nations.
1.2 What informed the development of the TWAIL movement?
The TWAIL movement developed in response to the historical and ongoing legacy of
colonialism and imperialism in international law. Scholars observed that the foundational
principles of international law, though seemingly universal, were crafted by Western powers to
legitimize their dominance and exploitation of the rest of the world. Key factors that informed its
development include:
The critique of Eurocentrism: TWAIL scholars argue that international law reflects a
Eurocentric worldview, neglecting the histories, cultures, and legal traditions of non-
Western societies.
Decolonisation: The wave of decolonisation in the mid-20th century exposed how
international law, which was meant to govern relations between independent states, was
used to entrench unequal power dynamics between former colonizers and newly
independent states.
Economic exploitation: The movement also highlights how international legal
structures, particularly in areas like trade, investment, and debt, have perpetuated the
economic subordination of developing countries.
1.3 What are the objectives of TWAIL?
The primary objectives of TWAIL are to:
Critique and expose: To expose the history of how international law has been used as a
tool for colonial expansion and to highlight the continuing systemic biases against
developing nations.
Reconstruct and reform: To propose a new framework for international law that is more
just, equitable, and inclusive. This involves advocating for changes to international
institutions and legal norms to better serve the interests of the Global South.
Challenge universalism: To challenge the notion that international law is a neutral and
universally applicable system. TWAIL scholars argue that it is a product of specific
historical and political contexts that have privileged certain states over others. They seek
to bring marginalized voices and perspectives into the discourse.
(COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 2 2025 - DUE
September 2025
For assistance contact
Email:
, Question 1: The TWAIL Movement
1.1 What does the acronym TWAIL stand for?
The acronym TWAIL stands for Third World Approaches to International Law. It is a body
of scholarship and a movement that critiques international law from the perspective of
developing and formerly colonized nations.
1.2 What informed the development of the TWAIL movement?
The TWAIL movement developed in response to the historical and ongoing legacy of
colonialism and imperialism in international law. Scholars observed that the foundational
principles of international law, though seemingly universal, were crafted by Western powers to
legitimize their dominance and exploitation of the rest of the world. Key factors that informed its
development include:
The critique of Eurocentrism: TWAIL scholars argue that international law reflects a
Eurocentric worldview, neglecting the histories, cultures, and legal traditions of non-
Western societies.
Decolonisation: The wave of decolonisation in the mid-20th century exposed how
international law, which was meant to govern relations between independent states, was
used to entrench unequal power dynamics between former colonizers and newly
independent states.
Economic exploitation: The movement also highlights how international legal
structures, particularly in areas like trade, investment, and debt, have perpetuated the
economic subordination of developing countries.
1.3 What are the objectives of TWAIL?
The primary objectives of TWAIL are to:
Critique and expose: To expose the history of how international law has been used as a
tool for colonial expansion and to highlight the continuing systemic biases against
developing nations.
Reconstruct and reform: To propose a new framework for international law that is more
just, equitable, and inclusive. This involves advocating for changes to international
institutions and legal norms to better serve the interests of the Global South.
Challenge universalism: To challenge the notion that international law is a neutral and
universally applicable system. TWAIL scholars argue that it is a product of specific
historical and political contexts that have privileged certain states over others. They seek
to bring marginalized voices and perspectives into the discourse.
