Episode 11: Umut Özsu on International Law and Marxism

This podcast explores the relationship between theory and history in international law, its transformation and complexity, Marxist approaches to legal phenomena, debates surrounding decolonization, multidisciplinary scholarship, the role of law in the international realm, and the challenges scholars face in pursuing knowledge. It provides insights into the motivations and challenges faced by scholars in their pursuit of knowledge and emphasizes the significance of Karl Marx's "Capital" in legal theory. Takeaways • Marxist approaches to international law offer valuable tools and concepts for analyzing imperialism, humanitarian intervention, neoliberalism, and other phenomena. • Decolonization is a complex process that has faced challenges in defining what is being decolonized and how to achieve decolonization. • Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary scholarship can provide deeper insights into legal cases by analyzing them in their social and historical context. • The transformation of international law has led to increased complexity and contestation within the field, necessitating the integration of history and theory.