Indigenous interests and inclusivity in international trade and investment policy constitutes the main research enquiry of this project. In particular, the project explores the ways in which international economic governance can accommodate, preserve and promote the interests of indigenous people that are the most marginalized community to benefit from economic and social justice.

On the one hand, research will investigate the manner and extent to which international and domestic legal frameworks have approached and addressed the rights and interests of indigenous communities; on the other hand, it is equally important to look into the opportunities to increase the involvement and participation of the same communities in the making of such legal frameworks.

Two country-specific case studies will be developed under the project, respectively exploring the system in New Zealand in protection for Maori group and in Norway towards the Sami people. The preliminary presumption is that the country’s political and institutional setting in relation to indigenous interests is the key element that determines the government’s approach and performance in the area, as demonstrated in their rule-making exercise both domestically and internationally.

 

Dr Michelle Q Zang holds the Bachelor in Law (Fudan University, Shanghai, 2004), LLM in European Legal Studies (Distinction, Durham University, UK, 2006) and PhD in EU Law and WTO Law (Durham University, UK, 2010). Dr Zang specialises, publishes and teaches in international economic law and European law. Before joining VUW, she completed post-doc research respectively as Emile Noël Fellow at Jean Monnet Center, NYU Law School (2010 - 2011) and at PluriCourts- Centre for the Study of the Legitimate Roles of the Judiciary in the Global Order, University of Oslo (2014 - 2018). She also worked for the Appellate Body Secretariat of the WTO (2011) and King & Wood Mallesons, Beijing (2012 - 2013).

Date: 9 March 2023. 10:00-12:00

The event will take place online. To join us, please follow the link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3a9bc67b8ba0b74d038a496fd05bd8c73d%40thread.tacv2/1678203447307?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22dfdc0203-79f4-4b7a-b4f3-caca1106f02f%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22af7f5a56-ad68-4921-abaa-b3e2358ad6de%22%7d