DHARMASHASTRA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

Session 2022-2023
B.A. LLB.- Semester VI

Public international law

TITLE:
“New Approaches
to International Law: The History of a Project”

SUBMITTED TO:
Miss swati singh parmar
Assistant Professor of Law, DNLU Jabalpur

SUBMITTED BY:
Rohit singh
BA/LLB/079/20
Overview

In "New Approaches to International Law: The History of a Project," Ntina Tzouvala,

a lecturer in law at the Australian National University, discusses the New Approaches
to International Law (NAIL) project, which was initiated in 2014 by a group of
scholars seeking to challenge traditional approaches to international law. The project
emerged as a response to the perceived limitations of state-centric and positivist
perspectives that dominated the field of international law. The NAIL project aimed to
promote a more critical and interdisciplinary approach to international law, drawing
on insights from fields such as sociology, anthropology, and critical theory. Tzouvala
describes the various workshops, conferences, and publications that resulted from the
project, as well as its key themes and ideas, including the importance of engaging
with the histories and experiences of colonized and oppressed peoples, understanding
the role of power and politics in international law, and moving beyond a narrow focus
on state sovereignty. Overall, Tzouvala's article provides an insightful overview of an
important and influential project that seeks to transform the field of international law
through critical and interdisciplinary approaches.
Critical analysis
Ntina Tzouvala's article "New Approaches to International Law: The History of a
Project" provides a fascinating insight into the development of the New Approaches
to International Law (NAIL) project, which aimed to challenge and transform the
traditional approaches to international law. Tzouvala describes the origins, goals, and
key themes of the NAIL project, as well as the various events and publications that
resulted from it.

One of the most significant contributions of the NAIL project is its attempt to promote
a more critical and interdisciplinary approach to international law. By drawing on
insights from fields such as sociology, anthropology, and critical theory, the project
seeks to challenge the dominant perspectives that prioritize state sovereignty and
positivist legal reasoning. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of engaging with the
histories and experiences of colonized and oppressed peoples, and understanding the
role of power and politics in international law.

However, one criticism of the NAIL project is that it tends to be too abstract and
theoretical, and may not offer practical solutions to the pressing issues facing the
international community. For example, the project's emphasis on the critique of power
relations in international law does not necessarily provide a clear roadmap for
addressing issues such as global inequality, climate change, or armed conflict. While
the NAIL project's emphasis on critical and interdisciplinary approaches is important,
it needs to be complemented by concrete proposals for addressing the challenges
facing the international community.

Another issue with the NAIL project is that it can be seen as elitist and exclusionary,
given its emphasis on the contributions of academics and intellectuals. This is a
problem because it may limit the potential impact of the project on broader audiences,
such as policymakers, civil society organizations, and grassroots activists. The NAIL
project needs to find ways to engage with diverse audiences and make its insights
accessible and relevant to different communities.

Despite these limitations, the NAIL project has made significant contributions to the
field of international law by challenging traditional approaches and promoting critical
and interdisciplinary perspectives. One of the most significant insights of the project
is its emphasis on the need to engage with the histories and experiences of colonized
and oppressed peoples. This is an important reminder that international law is not a
neutral or objective field, but is shaped by power relations, historical legacies, and
cultural biases.

Another important contribution of the NAIL project is its emphasis on the need to
move beyond a narrow focus on state sovereignty. By highlighting the role of non-
state actors, such as multinational corporations, international organizations, and civil
society groups, the project challenges the assumption that states are the only relevant
actors in international law. This is an important recognition of the complex and
interconnected nature of the contemporary world, and the need to develop legal
frameworks that can address the challenges of globalization and interdependence.

In conclusion, Ntina Tzouvala's article provides a valuable overview of the New

Approaches to International Law (NAIL) project, which seeks to challenge and
transform traditional approaches to international law through critical and
interdisciplinary perspectives. While the project has limitations, such as its abstract
and theoretical nature and its potential elitism, it has made significant contributions to
the field by emphasizing the importance of engaging with the histories and
experiences of colonized and oppressed peoples, and by challenging the assumption
that state sovereignty is the only relevant concept in international law. The NAIL
project is an important reminder that international law is not a neutral or objective
field, but is shaped by power relations, historical legacies, and cultural biases, and that
new approaches are needed to address the complex challenges facing the international
community.

COMMENTS AND CONCLUSION

recognizing the role of power and politics in shaping international law, the NAIL
project highlights the need for a more just and equitable global order.

However, as Tzouvala points out, there are limitations to the NAIL project's potential
impact on broader audiences, which may perpetuate elitism and exclude marginalized
communities. As leftists, we believe that knowledge and power should be shared
democratically and not concentrated in the hands of an elite few. The NAIL project
must therefore find ways to make its insights more accessible and relevant to diverse
communities, including those who have been historically oppressed and marginalized.

Furthermore, the NAIL project should also strive to be more action-oriented and
provide concrete proposals for addressing the pressing issues facing the international
community. Leftists believe that knowledge should be put into action, and that
transformative change requires collective action and mobilization.

Overall, Tzouvala's critical analysis of the NAIL project is a valuable contribution to

the field of international law, and provides important insights for leftists seeking to
promote a more just and equitable world.
Tzouvala's article on the New Approaches to International Law project presents a
comprehensive analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. While the project's
interdisciplinary and critical perspectives provide a fresh perspective on international
law, its abstract nature and potential elitism may limit its impact on broader
audiences.

Despite these challenges, the NAIL project remains an important initiative that
encourages scholars and practitioners to challenge dominant perspectives and explore
new approaches to international law. By recognizing the role of power, politics, and
historical legacies in shaping international law, the NAIL project highlights the need
for more just and equitable global order.

In conclusion, Tzouvala's article underscores the need for continued exploration of

innovative approaches to international law that engage with diverse perspectives and
promote inclusivity. The NAIL project serves as an important reminder that
international law cannot be viewed as a neutral or objective field, and that
transformative change is needed to address the complex challenges facing the
international community.