Ratio

What role can non-state laws play in a state and how do state authorities engage with these forms of social organising and enforcement? In this episode, Dr Luke McDonagh and Dr Nafay Choudhury analyse the interaction between state and non-state authorities as they take shape in the money exchange markets of Kabul. This episode was produced by Mohid Malik. Speakers: Luke McDonagh and Nafay Choudhur...

How should art be interpreted in the courtroom? Is it fair for an artist to have their art be scrutinised and analysed within a judicial setting? In this episode of Ratio, Dr Luke McDonagh engages in a two-part conversation with Dr Abenaa Owusu-Bempah to analyse how rap lyrics are used in criminal trials and how this fails to meet some of the basic evidentiary standards. Beyond the theoretical iss...

Dr Luke McDonagh sits down with LSE alum, barrister and novelist Tom Gaisford for an illuminating conversation on Tom's career, immigration and asylum law and how his years of working as a lawyer have come to inform the writing of his new book: Sanctuary. What are the differences between working as a solicitor and transitioning into a career as a barrister? What is it about immigration and asylum...

In what ways will AI impact the legal profession? How will this impact correspond to the need to change the way future lawyers are educated while at Law School? If one accepts that AI is transformative, how transformative is it? In our twentieth episode the Dean of LSE Law School, Professor David Kershaw, interviews author and CEO of FjordStream Advisors, Bjarne Tellmann to tackle the above questi...

This episode explores the role of patent law in our interconnected world. Professor Susan Marks and Dr Siva Thambisetty discuss Siva's work ranging from taking part in treaty negotiations for The BBNJ Agreement to her efforts during the COVID-19 Pandemic to help secure greater access to vaccines which would otherwise be hindered through patent law. The final part of this episode features Siva's cr...

How does the law shape our culture? Is education a neutral endeavour? Or, can an analysis of how one learns the law uncover the world-making nature of legal education? In this episode of Ratio , Professor Susan Marks asks these questions to Dr Jacco Bomhoff who provides an insightful analysis of the German legal system. The episode also explores Jacco's work on the conflict of laws. Feel free...

Professor Susan Marks sits down with Dr Roxana Willis for an insightful analysis on the shortcomings of hate crime laws. The inability of hate crime to protect victims of racist violence stems in part from an ineffectual understanding of racism in society more broadly. Instead of tackling the structural roots of racism, it seems that hate crime laws are preoccupied with racism in its more blatant...

As the war in Ukraine continues amidst a backdrop of recent diplomatic manoeuvres, how does international law guide state action? In this episode of Ratio, Professor Floris de Witte poses this question to Dr Lora Izvorova. Lora analyses the interaction between domestic politics and international law and highlights a perhaps uncomfortable truth that international law can be susceptible to wide inte...

When courts step in to resolve disputes between private parties, what impact do these decisions have on managing market distribution and economic inequality? Dr Joseph Spooner argues that the law has a "constitutive role" that directly impacts the way markets function. In this episode, Dr Spooner discusses his findings and analysis from his 2024 article "Contract Law: When the Poor...

If one examines the history of financial crises whether in the late 90s in Asia or the global financial crisis of 07-08 you might wonder what role - if any - government agencies or intergovernmental agencies can play in alleviating the possibilities of economic crash. In this episode, Professor Floris de Witte engages with the rich work of Professor Niamh Moloney to examine how capital market regu...

In this episode of Ratio, Professor Floris de Witte interviews Dr Marie Petersmann and Dr Dimitri Vandermeerssche on the work they have done curating their lecture series, conference and podcast: "Underworlds – Sites and Struggles of Global Dis/Ordering." In their conversation with Floris, Marie and Dimitri discuss the ways in which conceptions of authority and order shape how international law op...

In episode 12, Professor Floris de Witte and Dr Jan Zglinski discuss the regulation of sport through European Union law. Various points of contention may arise between sports governing bodies and the legal structures they interact with. While sports teams are interested in not being at a competitive disadvantage with other teams, the European Court of Justice has to ensure that the rules of sport...

In May 2024, the Infected Blood Inquiry report was published (accessible here: https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/reports/inquiry-report). The report detailed the systemic issues that led to the infected blood scandal, which saw the deaths of over 3000 people who received infected blood whilst undergoing different medical treatments. Hannah Gibbs, an assistant professor at the LSE, sat down w...

Is there a right to security in the criminal law? Professor Peter Ramsay's 2012 book The Insecurity State Vulnerable Autonomy and the Right to Security in the Criminal Law, explained how such a right is apparent when one examines the different instruments employed by the state to guarantee precautionary justice. In this episode of Ratio, Professor Nicola Lacey speaks with Peter to unpack the impli...

How should judges combat accusations of the politicisation of their courts? What happens when courts fall victim to political capture? Professor Nicola Lacey and Professor Susanne Baer discuss the nature of constitutionalism and the way in which courts around the world are engaged in conversation with one another to inform the way justice is globally conceived. The episode delves into Professor Ba...

In honour of the years of academic service to the LSE, this episode of Ratio examines some of the contribution of Professor Julia Black in enriching the LSE and academia at large. In conversation with Julia, Professor Niamh Moloney also discusses the theoretical framework introduced by Julia in her book Rules and Regulators, which helped to outline how power is distributed in society through rules...

In this episode of Ratio, Dr Sarah Trotter has a conversation with the LSE's President and Vice Chancellor, Professor Larry Kramer. Amongst the many interesting topics discussed, this episode delves into the importance of interdisciplinary work as a way to produce meaningful scholarship. Professor Kramer also offers his vision for the LSE as he begins his position of President and Vice Chancel...

Does the environment possess rights? Perhaps it does, but according to Dr Marie Petersmann, such a claim reinforces a conception of rights centred on the human experience. In this episode of Ratio, Professor Gerry Simpson explores this argument put forth by Dr Petersmann. In doing so, we are asked to confront the shortcoming s that arise when one asserts that 'nature' has rights. Is enviro...

What is terrorism, and can we legislate against it? In episode 5 of the Ratio podcast, Professor Gerry Simpson speaks to Professor Conor Gearty KC on his 2024 book "Homeland Insecurity: The Rise and Rise of Global Anti-Terrorism Law." Professor Gearty challenges us to grapple with how 'terrorism' is politicised as a label. When did states begin to legislate against terrorism? Wha...

Is the contemporary form of constitutionalism fit for purpose to address the social, political, and economic discontents around the world? What is the difference between a constitution and constitutionalism? In this episode Professor Gerry Simpson and Professor Martin Loughlin analyse the nature of constitutionalism today. Given the rise of populism in recent years, can constitutional principles b...

The impact of tax policies is complex, but how do taxes influence perceptions of the very rich in society? How do the highest earners respond to tax policies? By analysing UK tax records and the way the wealthy and top earners in the UK respond to tax policies, Professor Gerry Simpson sits down with Dr Andy Summers in this episode of Ratio to provide a quantitative and qualitative assessment of re...

The relationship between copyright law and works of theatre poses interesting legal and social questions. Given the derivative nature of some productions, what does it mean for one to ‘own’ a piece of theatrical work? How does copyright law interact with the peculiar ways art is produced? In this episode of the Ratio podcast, Professor Gerry Simpson sits down with Dr Luke McDonagh to analyse the r...

Does justice look different domestically than internationally? How does the international community address issues of impunity exhibited by states and individuals in an affront to international law? In this episode, “Everything, Everywhere, all at once: On the Universality of International Law,” Professor Gerry Simpson speaks with Dr Devika Hovell on the history of international criminal prosecuti...