Acknowledgements

It takes a village.

I am thankful to my village of people, without whom this book would not exist.

It would be an injustice to start any other way than by thanking my supervisor, Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue. He saw my potential to carry out this project before I even saw it in myself. He has inspired me through both his friendship and example, and continues to do so.

I was supported, advised and assisted in my years at the University of Geneva by Dina Khan, Guive Khan Mohammad, León Castellanos Jankiewicz, Djemila Carron, Olivia Le Fort, Bérénice Schramm, Stephanie de Mooerloose, Rukia Baruti, Luis Espinosa-Salas, Gleider Hernandez, Christian Walter, Jean d’Aspremont, Robert McCorquodale, Marco Sassoli, Antonella Angellini, Alvaro Lopez, Besnik Ibrahimi, Dimitri Donzé, Verra Gowlland-Debbas, Kari de Pryck, Vittorio Mainetti, Claire Poppelwell-Scevak, Ilyas Sobol, Angus Wallace, Yuliya Kaspiarovich, Flore Venackère, Tanya Pettay, Diana Cucos, Momchil Milanov, Fatoumata P. Doumbouya, Justine Bendel, Fransisco J. Pascual Vives, Jana Ruwayha and Laurence Boisson de Chazournes. I am so thankful for the ways they facilitated my journey.

A series of exchanges during my various professional experiences at the United Nations kept me going in the early stages of research: thanks to Professors Dire Tladi, Mathias Forteau, Chris Peter Maina, Concepción Escobar Hernandez, Charles Jalloh, Dražen Petrović and George Politakis.

Much of this book was written during my time in the Peace Palace. Thank you to the wonderful community there who provided assistance and inspiration: Vladyslav Lanovoy, Mamadou Hébié, Asier Garrido Munoz, Callum Musto, Julia Sherman, Rosine, Rosalind Elphick, Nawi Ukabiala, Solène Guggisberg, Rina Kuusipaalo, Cyril Emery, Avo Sevag Garabet, Nathalie Wiles, Judge Ivana Hrdličková, Cristina Hoss, Kirsten Calhoun, Désiré Ahanhanzo, Moussa Sow, Judges Robinson, Bennouna, Cançado Trindade and ad hoc Dugard.

Thanks to Jean-Pelé Fomété and Professor Maya Hertig for carefully reviewing my book for my viva, and to other kind souls for their meticulous feedback and helpful advice: Massimo Lando, Brian McGarry, Mona Paulsen, Susan Kimani, Philippe Sands, Iain Scobbie, Gail Lythgoe and Emmanuel Voyiakis. I am grateful to the community of brilliant and kind academics at the London School of Economics – especially David Kershaw, Niki Lacey, Susan Marks, Devika Hovell and Gerry Simpson – who not only challenged me intellectually but pushed me to finalise this project. I could not have done so without the diligent assistance of Anna Kokla, Sarah Lok, Myrto Stavridi and Grete Labunski.

Special thanks go to my dear family and friends who celebrated my wins and patiently listened to my woes throughout the years. I am indebted to my mother, who was always there to listen, to encourage, and to provide the stability that I needed while completing this project. I am also grateful to Faheem for his unwavering support and patience during the long days and nights of finalising this book.

Finally, I would like to thank The One for giving me this opportunity, providing me with the ease within the hardship and seeing me through one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.