Legal Heterodoxy in the Global South

Professors
Professor Mariana Pargendler (Beneficial Professor of Law at Harvard Law School)
Professor Deborah Burand (Professor of Clinical Law at NYU School of Law. Faculty Director of the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship)

Description
“Legal Heterodoxy” is a new strain of research that challenges the common perception that legal systems in developing countries are outdated or plagued by enforcement issues. Instead, it fosters studies of private law in the Global South, showcasing how countries in the region have embraced legal doctrines that diverge from traditional approaches in the Global North, incorporating social and distributional concerns into their private law regimes. 

The event will discuss the book “Legal Heterodoxy in the Global South” (Cambridge Press, 2025), organized by Professors Mariana Pargendler and Kevin Davis. Chapters cover core areas of private law, including contracts, property, torts, corporations, and legal personality. Case studies range from India's adoption of CSR rules to Argentina's protection of hyper-vulnerable consumers.

RSVP here