, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE TO ANSWER YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Question 1
1. Following a conference on decolonising international law, your line manager, a senior legal
advisor, informs you that the TWAIL movement enjoyed a great deal of attention. He asks you
to provide responses to the following questions, which will form part of his report.
1.1. What does the acronym TWAIL stand for?
TWAIL stands for Third World Approaches to International Law. This movement challenges the
dominance of Western perspectives in international law, advocating for the recognition of the legal
needs and perspectives of developing nations1.
1.2. What informed the development of the TWAIL movement?
The development of the TWAIL movement was informed by the historical experience of
colonization and the ongoing challenges faced by post-colonial states. The movement critiques the
Eurocentric nature of international law, highlighting its role in perpetuating the inequalities imposed
by colonialism, particularly the power structures embedded in international institutions like the UN
and the Bretton Woods system2 . Additionally, the TWAIL movement is influenced by the need to
address the imbalance of sovereignty and legal status between developed and developing countries in
the international legal system3.
1.3. What are the objectives of TWAIL?
The primary objectives of the TWAIL movement include advocating for the reform of international
law to better represent the interests of developing countries, challenging the hegemonic structures
that marginalize these states, and promoting a more inclusive legal system that recognizes the
historical injustices of colonization. The movement seeks to decolonize international law by
reinterpreting key concepts such as sovereignty, human rights, and self-determination in ways that
empower former colonies and other marginalized states4 . Additionally, TWAIL advocates for the
incorporation of more diverse perspectives in international legal discourse to address the
socio-economic and political challenges faced by the Global South3.
1: (Strydom et al., 2024: p31)
2: (Strydom et al., 2024: p34–35)
3: (Strydom et al., 2024: p48)
4: (Strydom et al., 2024: p36–40)
Question 1
1. Following a conference on decolonising international law, your line manager, a senior legal
advisor, informs you that the TWAIL movement enjoyed a great deal of attention. He asks you
to provide responses to the following questions, which will form part of his report.
1.1. What does the acronym TWAIL stand for?
TWAIL stands for Third World Approaches to International Law. This movement challenges the
dominance of Western perspectives in international law, advocating for the recognition of the legal
needs and perspectives of developing nations1.
1.2. What informed the development of the TWAIL movement?
The development of the TWAIL movement was informed by the historical experience of
colonization and the ongoing challenges faced by post-colonial states. The movement critiques the
Eurocentric nature of international law, highlighting its role in perpetuating the inequalities imposed
by colonialism, particularly the power structures embedded in international institutions like the UN
and the Bretton Woods system2 . Additionally, the TWAIL movement is influenced by the need to
address the imbalance of sovereignty and legal status between developed and developing countries in
the international legal system3.
1.3. What are the objectives of TWAIL?
The primary objectives of the TWAIL movement include advocating for the reform of international
law to better represent the interests of developing countries, challenging the hegemonic structures
that marginalize these states, and promoting a more inclusive legal system that recognizes the
historical injustices of colonization. The movement seeks to decolonize international law by
reinterpreting key concepts such as sovereignty, human rights, and self-determination in ways that
empower former colonies and other marginalized states4 . Additionally, TWAIL advocates for the
incorporation of more diverse perspectives in international legal discourse to address the
socio-economic and political challenges faced by the Global South3.
1: (Strydom et al., 2024: p31)
2: (Strydom et al., 2024: p34–35)
3: (Strydom et al., 2024: p48)
4: (Strydom et al., 2024: p36–40)
