Pembroke Alumnus Dr Geoffrey Swenson Publishes New Book

Congratulations to Pembroke alumnus, Dr Geoffrey Swenson (2012, DPhil International Relations), who has published his first book Contending Orders: Legal Pluralism and the Rule of Law.

We asked Geoffrey about his path from Pembroke student to published author, and his advice for our graduate students:

"I graduated from Oxford with a DPhil in International Relations in 2016 as a Pembroke/Clarendon Scholar. After that, I spent two years as a Fellow in the International Development Department at the London School of Economics. Currently, I’m a Senior Lecturer in International Politics at City, University of London. 

My book, Contending Orders: Legal Pluralism and the Rule of Law, was recently published by Oxford University Press. It draws directly on my research at Pembroke. Globally, the vast majority of disputes are handled by non-justice systems rooted in custom, religion or tradition. Yet the role of legal pluralism is frequently misunderstood and when different justice systems clash, prolonged, potentially even violent conflict can result.

Recent post-conflict rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan and Timor-Leste highlight the vital role of non-state authorities in the success or failure of efforts to support democracy and the rule of law. It is not enough to merely recognize that legal pluralism exists. Scholars and policymakers must understand how legal pluralism actually functions. Contending Orders analyzes the forces that shape how state and non-state justice interact, and offers strategies to promote the rule of law and good governance wherever legal pluralism thrives.

My time at Pembroke was crucial to developing this research and my career as a scholar more broadly. Pembroke provided a forum to present my research project and even helped support extended fieldwork in Afghanistan and Timor-Leste. Yet, this only scratches the surface of what makes Pembroke so special.

As a former MCR president, I would encourage doctoral and other postgraduate students to get involved with the MCR. It is a very welcoming place. I met many lifelong friends there and even co-authored academic articles with a couple of them. Specialized graduate study tends to be a bit siloed. At Pembroke, you encounter incredible people from across disciplines every day!"

Find Geoffrey’s book here and receive a 30% discount with the code ASFLYQ6.

Follow Geoffrey and read more about his work here.