• Research
  • Politika
  • About
Carnegie Russia Eurasia center logoCarnegie lettermark logo
  • Donate
REQUIRED IMAGE

REQUIRED IMAGE

Paper

Beyond Rule of Law Orthodoxy: The Legal Empowerment Alternative

The international aid field of law and development focuses too much on law, lawyers and state institutions, and too little on development, the poor and civil society. In fact, it is doubtful whether "rule of law orthodoxy," the dominant paradigm pursued by many international agencies, should be the central means for integrating law and development.

Link Copied
By Stephen Golub
Published on Oct 14, 2003

Additional Links

Full Text (PDF)

Source: Carnegie Paper No. 41

Summary
The international aid field of law and development focuses too much on law, lawyers and state institutions, and too little on development, the poor and civil society. In fact, it is doubtful whether "rule of law orthodoxy," the dominant paradigm pursued by many international agencies, should be the central means for integrating law and development.

This working paper examines legal empowerment—the use of legal services and related development activities to increase disadvantaged populations' control over their lives—as an alternative.

About the Author

Stephen Golub is a lecturer in international development and law at the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California at Berkeley.

Some print copies are available.
Request a copy

Stephen Golub
Political ReformDemocracyEconomy

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    How Yulia Tymoshenko Returned to the Center of Ukrainian Politics Yet Again

    The story of a has-been politician apparently caught red-handed is intersecting with the larger forces at work in the Ukrainian parliament.

      Konstantin Skorkin

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Why Did Zelensky Make a Spymaster His Chief of Staff?

    While appointing Kyrylo Budanov will help shore up Zelensky’s political authority and balance the president’s inner circle, the spy chief’s political ambitions mean he could be a threat.

      Konstantin Skorkin

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Azerbaijan’s “Neither War Nor Peace” Strategy Is Limiting Rapprochement With Armenia

    While signaling internationally that it wants peace, the Azerbaijani regime continues to promote anti-Armenian sentiment at home to mobilize domestic support.

      Bashir Kitachaev

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    How Far Will the Kremlin Take Its Internet Crackdown?

    In an attempt to stop Ukrainian drones from reaching their targets, the Russian authorities have significantly ramped up online repression.

      Maria Kolomychenko

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Including Russia on the EU Financial Blacklist Will Hurt Ordinary People, Not the Kremlin

    The paradox of the European Commission’s decision is that the main victims will not be those it formally targets. Major Russian businesses associated with the Putin regime have long adapted to sanctions with the help of complex schemes involving third countries, offshore companies, and nonpublic entities.

      Alexandra Prokopenko

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
Carnegie Russia Eurasia logo, white
  • Research
  • Politika
  • About
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.