At the margins for globalization: Indigenous Peoples and international economic law

Despite the tremendous progress in the development of scientific knowledge, the understanding of the causes of poverty and inequality, and the role of politics and governance in addressing modern challenges, issues such as social exclusion, poverty, marginalization and despair continue to be a reality across the world - and most often impact Indigenous Peoples.

This seminar explores how Indigenous Peoples are affected by globalization, and the culture of individual choice without responsibility that it promotes, while addressing what can be done about it. Though international trade and investment agreements are unlikely to go away, the inclusion of Indigenous rights provisions has made a positive difference.

About the Speaker

Sergio Puig is Professor of Law and the Director of the International Economic Law Program at the University of Arizona as well as the Co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of International Economic Law. Previously, Sergio was the teaching fellow of the prestigious Program in International Legal Studies (SPILS) at Stanford and served as a lecturer in law at Duke and Stanford Universities.

Before entering academia, he practiced international law in Mexico and the USA, and worked at the World Bank. Sergio is the co-founder of tradelab.org, an organization to facilitate assistance in international trade and investment law matters by law school clinics. Sergio is the author of At the Margins of Globalization: Indigenous Peoples and International Economic Law as well as many articles in specialized journals and books chapters.

This event will be delivered online via Zoom only.

Image credit: Image of Lumads marching with "Assert Indigenous Peoples right to self determination" banner in Davao City, Philippines by Keith Bacongo on flickr (CCBY 2.0)