Acknowledgments
This volume began its life as a weeklong research seminar at the University of Lausanne. We gratefully acknowledge the financial and logistical support of a number of institutions that made this June 2022 event possible, including the Swiss National Science Foundation, which provided funding for both the weeklong event and this Open Access volume; the Institute of Social Sciences and the Laboratory of Cultural and Social Anthropology (LACS) at the University of Lausanne; and the Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. The project also benefitted from the research assistance of Amelia Veitch, PhD student in LACS. Finally, although she didn’t contribute a chapter, Andrea Freeman participated in all phases of the weeklong seminar in Lausanne and her timely and insightful interventions were much appreciated.
At Cambridge University Press, editor Tom Randall supported the idea of transforming the June 2022 research seminar into an edited volume from early on. After Tom moved to a new position at the press, the responsibility for the book passed to Marianne Nield, who shepherded it through many of the most important stages. Finally, Natasha Burton took over as our editor while the book moved into production and provided excellent guidance and oversight toward the end of the process.
Our warmest thanks go to the participants themselves, who agreed to come together at the end of the academic year to reflect on the contested status of law in a world of confrontation and crisis. During a week of intensive debate, disagreement, and, finally, something like a working consensus, this interdisciplinary group of scholars proved equal to the formidable task: to take the measure of law against a backdrop of rising populism, a continued weakening of the postwar international system, and a sharpening of political divisions within – and beyond – democratic states. Despite this daunting wider context, the group managed to enjoy many productive and congenial hours together, a week of intellectual work enriched by the welcoming spirit of the city of Lausanne and its different attractions.
Finally, on a personal note, Mark would like to acknowledge the loving support of his family, Romana, Dara, and Isaiah, who have been there through the trials and tribulations of now seventeen books. Olaf is grateful for a fellowship at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg Münster “Legal Unity & Pluralism” that facilitated finalizing the co-authored Introduction to this volume as well as his chapter. Over the years, his thoughts on transformative constitutionalism in South Africa have also benefitted greatly from spirited discussions with Cherryl Walker, Zsa-Zsa Boggenpoel, Andries du Toit, and Michaela Hailbronner. Last but not least, he wishes to acknowledge the ongoing support, patience, and encouragement of his family, Julia, Nele, and Max.
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