ORGANISER: DR NAUMAN REAYAT, FOUNDER/CONVENER GSN.

Each seminar in this series is one hour long. A PhD candidate presents for 20 to 25 minutes which is followed by discussion and questions and answers session. The series aims to transfer knowledge and share good practices among the GSN members. The objectives are to provide PhD students from, or focusing on, the Global South showcase their research across the Global South, receive feedback, contribute to the development of academic culture of the Global South, and to network with potential partners for future research. 

If any PhD candidate is interested in presenting their ongoing research project during one of the above seminars then please send me your brief bio, topic of the work, an abstract of 200 to 350 words discussing research problem/question, the gap in the wider literature on the topic, your main argument, methodology and your preliminary findings at globalsouthnetwork@leicester.ac.uk .  

PHASE 1 : MAY 2023 TO AUGUST 2023

Dr Nauman Reayat, Convener, GSN organised the first phase of weekly international, interdisciplinary, and online PhD in progress seminar from 9 May 2023 to 23 August 2023.  PhD candidate presented their project focusing on the issues of the Global South every Wednesday at 14:00 UK time. Students and staff from 8 disciplines, 21 universities, and 8 countries participated in the first phase. 

Judicial Legislation: the ever-expanding role of the Supreme Court of Nigeria

Yusuf Sulayman PhD Candidate, School of Law, University of Portsmouth presented his project titled “Judicial Legislation: the ever-expanding role of the Supreme Court of Nigeria” on 9 May 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Dr Mauro Arturo Rivera, Assistant Professor, University of Silesia, Katowice was the discussant. Kelvin Vries, PhD Candidate, School of Law, University of Oxford was the peer commentator. Dr Moohyung Cho, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Ewha Woman University, Korea chaired the session.

On the Walls of Polis: Examining Life and Death in Afghanistan from the perspective of Agamben, Foucault, and Mbembe

Anil Yildrim PhD Candidate, School of Politics and International Relations, University of Leicester presented his project titled “On the Walls of Polis: Examining Life and Death in Afghanistan from the perspective of Agamben, Foucault, and Mbembe” on 16 May 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Dr Vikram Visana, Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations, University of Leicester was the discussant. Shahab Saqib, PhD Candidate, School of Law, King’s College London/ Visiting Lecturer, SOAS Law School, University of London was the peer commentator. Prof Rhona Smith, School of Law, Newcastle University chaired the session.

Responding to Conflict-related sexual violence against women in Africa: Socio-cultural challenges and opportunities

Jack Mbueyalongo Luita, PhD Candidate, Department of Health Sciences, University of York presented his project titled “Responding to Conflict-related sexual violence against women in Africa: Socio-cultural challenges and opportunities”. The case of the Eastern region of Congo”  on 24 May 2023 at 14:00 UK time.

Bank Insolvency and Resolution Regime in China

Xin Wang, PhD candidate, School of Law, University of Leicester presented her project titled “Bank Insolvency and Resolution Regime in China.” on 31 May 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Dr Ebenezer Adodo, Associate Professor of Commercial Law School of Law, University of Leicester chaired the session.  Dr Navajyoti Samanta, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Leicester was the discussant and Jack Mbueyalongo Luita, PhD Candidate, Department of Health Sciences, University of York was the peer commentator for this session.

Old islands, new politics: Constitutional change and a land-grab in Antigua and Barbuda

Joseph Cosagine PhD Candidate, Department of History, University of York presented his project titled “Old islands, new politics: Constitutional change and a land-grab in Antigua and Barbuda” on 7 June 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Prof Hakeem Yusuf, School of Law, University of Derby was the discussant. Sophia Schroeder PhD Candidate, Judicial Studies Institute, University College London was the peer commentator. Dr Majida Ismael, Research Associate, Liverpool Hope University chaired the session.

Discrimination against the Ideological minorities: An Ideological Critique of International and Islamic Law through the case study of India and Pakistan

Shahab Saqib, PhD Candidate, School of Law, King’s College London/ Visiting Lecturer, SOAS Law School, University of London presented his project titled “Discrimination against the Ideological minorities: An Ideological Critique of International and Islamic Law through the case study of India and Pakistan” on 14 June 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Prof Kimberley Brayson, School of Law, University of Leicester chaired the session. Prof Rhona Smith, School of Law, Newcastle University was the discussant and Ewa Karolina Garbarz, PhD Candidate, School of Law, University of Leicester was the peer commentator for this session.  

Judicial Review in Africa: Constitutional Amendments Prior to 1990

Kelvin Vries, PhD Candidate, School of Law, University of Oxford presented his project titled “Judicial Review in Africa: Constitutional Amendments Prior to 1990” on 21 June 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Prof Hakeem Yusuf, School of Law, University of Derby chaired the session. Dr Moohyung Cho, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Ewha Woman University, Korea was the discussant and Brian Highsmith, PhD Candidate, Social Policy and Government, Harvard University was the peer commentator for this session.

Odious Constitutions and Democratic Jubilee

Brian Highsmith, PhD Candidate, Government and Social Policy, Harvard University presented his project titled “Odious Constitutions and Democratic Jubilee” on 28 June 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Dr Masrur Salekin, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bangladesh Judiciary chaired the session. Dr Marcus De Matos, Lecturer in Public Law, Brunel University London was the discussant and Joseph Gascoigne, PhD Candidate, Department of History, University of York was the peer commentator for this session.

Courts in Consociations (Northern Ireland and Lebanon)

Sophia Schroeder, PhD Candidate, Judicial Studies Institute, University College London presented her project titled “Courts in Consociations (Northern Ireland and Lebanon)” on 5 July 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Dr Mauro Arturo Rivera, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Silesia, Katowice chaired the session. Dr Tamaraudoubra  Egbe, Lecturer in Law, School of Law, University of Leicester was the discussant and Yusuf Sulayman, PhD Candidate, School of Law, University of Portsmouth was the peer commentator for this session. 

From Communism to EU-Membership. Legal Transitions and Democratic Backsliding in Poland

Ewa Karolina Garbarz, PhD Candidate, School of Law, University of Leicester presented her project titled “From Communism to EU-Membership. Legal Transitions and Democratic Backsliding in Poland” on 12 July 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Dr Ed Bates, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Leicester chaired the session. Dr Marcelo Carvalho Loureiro, Lecturer in Law, School of Law, University of Leicester was the discussant and Mariam Begadze, PhD Candidate, Department of Legal Studies, Central European University was the peer commentator for tomorrow’s session. 

How decolonisation is abused to undermine democracy: the case of Indonesian Criminal Code

Ratu Duraton Nafisah, Centre of Asian Legal Studies, National University of Singapore presented her project titled “How decolonisation is abused to undermine democracy: the case of Indonesian Criminal Code” Wednesday 19 July 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Dr Olivia Lwabukuna, Lecturer in Law, School of Law, SOAS, University of London chaired the session.  Dr Tom Frost, Lecturer in Law, Leicester Law School and Saru Arifin, Ph.D. Candidate at the Faculty of Law, University of Pecs, Hungary were discussant and peer commentators respectively for this session.

Insult Law in Indonesia’s New Penal Code: Does it provide a counterbalance to the state’s protection of the right to free speech and expression? 

Saru Arifin, PhD Candidate, School of Law, University of Pecs, Hungary will presented his project titled “Insult Law in Indonesia’s New Penal Code: Does it provide a counterbalance to the state’s protection of the right to free speech and expression? ” on 26 July 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Dr Vikram Visana, Lecturer in Political Theory, School of Politics and International Relations, University of Leicester chaired the session. Dr Nauman Reayat, Lecturer in Law, School of Law, University of Leicester was the discussant and Ratu Durotun Nafisah, Research Associate, Centre of Asian Legal Studies,  National University of Singapore was the peer commentator for this session.

Dialogic Review of Health Rights in India in Normal Times and Crisis

Mariam Begadze, PhD Candidate, Department of Legal Studies, Central European University presented her project titled “Dialogic Review of Health Rights in India in Normal Times and Crisis“ on 2 August 2023 at 14:00 UK time.  Dr Tom Frost, Senior Lecturer in Law, School of Law, University of Kent chaired the session.  Masood Ahmed, Associate Professor of Law, School of Law, University of Leicester was the discussant and Dr Blerim Mustafa, PhD from School of Politics and International Relations, University of Leicester was the peer commentator for this session. 

Filling the Gaps: Constitutional Responses to Affirmative Action in Africa

Solomon Faakye, PhD Candidate, School of Law,  University of Leicester/Head, Legal Affairs and General Counsel Office, University of Cape Coast presented his project titled “Filling the Gaps: Constitutional Responses to Affirmative Action in Africa” Wednesday 9 August 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Tasneem Kausar, Professor of Law and Jurisprudence, Pakistan College of Law chaired the session.  Dr Adaeze Aniodoh, Lecturer in Law, School of Law, University of Leicester  and Michelle Hughes, PhD Candidate, School of Law, London School of Economics were discussant and peer commentators respectively for this session.

 Remedial Secession in the Post-Cold War Era

Dr Blerim Mustafa presented his project titled “Remedial Secession in the Post-Cold War Era” on Wednesday 16 August 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Dr Joycelin, Lecturer in Law, Leicester Law School, was the discussant. Dr Nurullah Gorgen, Teaching Fellow, School of Law, University of Durham chaired the session. Sonia Cruz Davila, PhD Candidate, School of Law, Kings College London was the peer commentator.

Presentation of Electronic Bills of Lading in Electronic Letters of Credit: Aligning the E-UCP with the MLETR AND MLETR-styled Legislations

Gabriel Emeasoba, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Aberdeen will present his project titled “Presentation of Electronic Bills of Lading in Electronic Letters of Credit: Aligning the E-UCP with the MLETR AND MLETR-styled Legislations“ on  Wednesday 23 August 2023 at 14:00 UK time. Flora Huang, Professor of Law and Business, School of Law, University of Derby will chair the session. Ebenezer Adodo, Associate Professor of Commercial Law, School of Law, University of Leicester is the discussant and Rafaella Ethelonti, PhD Candidate, School of Law,  University of Leicester was the peer commentator