The importance of the (inter)national rule of law for peace, fairness, and economic growth is generally acknowledged inside and outside the United Nations. However, there is mounting scepticism regarding the success of rule of law promotion by the UN and other international organizations and donors at the national and international levels during the past two decades.

While this scepticism is justified in some respects, it risks overlooking areas where innovations have been made, important insights have been gained, and tangible successes, fragile or more robust, have been achieved in the past 5-10 years.

This publication, produced by the WJP and the Hiil, aims to highlight some of these innovations and insights through a series of concise papers by key experts and organisations in the area of rule of law. Based on these papers we have also prepared a publication “Innovations in Rule of Law – Visions for Policy makers”, where summaries of the four sections and policy recommendations can be found.

The report thereby hopes to contribute to the debate in the UN General Assembly on 24 September, and to subsequent discussion and action by states, international organizations, governments and civil society.

EDITORS

Juan Carlos Botero; Ronald Janse; Sam Muller; and Christine Pratt

Section 1: Measuring the Rule of Law 

Authors: Juan Carlos Botero, Joel Martinez, Alejandro Ponce and Christine Pratt 
 
Authors: Todd Foglesong and Christopher Stone
 
Authors: Innocent Chukwuma and Eban Ebai 
 
Authors: Jim Parsons and Monica Thornton 
 
Section 2: The Nexus Between the National and International Rule of Law
 
Author: André Nollkaemper 
 
Author: Emilie Hunter 
 
Author: Michael Maya 
 
Section 3: Legal Empowerment and other Bottom Up Approaches to Rule of Law Promotion
 
Author: Stephen Golub 
 
Author: Roy L. Prosterman
 
Authors: Dubravka Bojic, Christopher Tanner, and Margret Vidar 
 
Author: Simeon Koroma 
 
Author: Maurits Barendrecht 
 
Authors: International Development Law Organization (IDLO) 
 
Author: Tilmann J. Röder 
 
Author: Joyce Hakmeh 
 
Section 4: Statebuilding and Rule of Law in Conflict-Affected and Fragile States
 
Authors: Luc van de Goor and Erwin van Veen 
 
Authors: International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) 
 
Author: Richard Zajac-Sannerholm 
 
 
To read the Executive Summary and go to the Volumes page, click here.
 
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