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The Political Economy of Legal and Governance Reform in Non-Western Societies: Insights from Central Asia

Project description

Improving the rule of law in non-Western countries

With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the POLCA project investigates why efforts to strengthen the rule of law and good governance in non-Western countries often face obstacles. It develops an interdisciplinary research and training programme centred on alternative institutions and norms – such as indigenous practices, informal governance and hybrid legal systems. By combining empirical fieldwork with new theoretical approaches, POLCA will generate fresh insights into law, development and governance processes in non-Western societies. Its consortium unites leading universities and non-academic partners from Europe, North America, Central Asia, the Middle East and East Asia. Beyond advancing scholarship, the project will provide strategic intelligence for policymakers, international organisations and development agencies, contributing to more inclusive, context-sensitive reforms worldwide.

Objective

The overarching objective of POLCA is to contribute to global and national efforts in understanding the challenges of promoting good governance and the rule of law in non-Western societies. This will be achieved by designing and implementing an interdisciplinary research and training program focused on “alternative institutions and norms.” More specifically, POLCA is built around three interconnected goals: 1) To collect original empirical data and produce new theoretical insights on alternative legal and governance institutions and norms in non-Western contexts; 2) To engage with and contribute to relevant theoretical debates within law, development and governance (LDG) studies and political economy literature and thereby advance scholarly discussion on the role of non-Western institutions and norms in legal and governance reform processes; and 3) To contribute to the global law, development and governance agenda by providing strategic intelligence and policy insights for international organisations, development agencies, decision-makers, researchers and practitioners inside and outside the EU on possible ways to improve the rule of law and governance in non-Western societies. These goals will be accomplished through a multi-sited, interdisciplinary, and multisectoral research and staff exchange program involving 30 leading universities and non-academic institutions across Europe, North America, Central Asia, the Middle East and East Asia.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-SE - HORIZON TMA MSCA Staff Exchanges

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-SE-01

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Coordinator

LUNDS UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution
€ 405 810,00
Address
Paradisgatan 5c
22100 Lund
Sweden
Region
Södra Sverige Sydsverige Skåne län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (9)

Partners (20)