IPSA RC09 Work-in-Progress Session: Courts, Power, and the Rule of Law

The IPSA Work-in-Progress Session on "Courts, Power, and the Rule of Law: Comparative Judicial Studies in Contemporary Context" explores new and emerging challenges for judicial systems. This workshop is convened by the Comparative Judicial Studies Research Committee (RC09) of the International Political Science Association (IPSA). Format The IPSA Work-in-Progress Sessions are online research workshops focused on specific themes. Each workshop focused a theme involves between 6 and 12 paper presentations, with each paper allocated 1 hour. This structure is designed to encourage in-depth discussions of each paper. Participation is limited to paper presenters and chairs. The workshops strive for regional and gender balance and include younger scholars, in accordance with the diversity policy in IPSA's Mission Statement. Theme This Work-in-Progress Session on "Courts, Power, and the Rule of Law: Comparative Judicial Studies in Contemporary Context" will be held online from 16-18 July 2026 each day from 13:00-17:00 UTC. The workshop will cover the broad field of Comparative Judicial Studies. This includes the comparative analysis of judicial processes, as well as the study of legal professions, the judiciary, legal doctrines, legal systems, and legal cultures. It also examines how these judicial processes relate to constitutions, executives, legislatures, political parties, federalism, political culture, and other sociopolitical dynamics. The workshop particularly welcomes contributions addressing new and emerging challenges for judicial systems, including issues such as the rule of law and war, judicial independence in fragile states, asymmetries of power between private and public actors, the relationship between courts and migration flows, and the backlash against women's and minority rights. The ultimate aim is to enhance knowledge of both the shared and distinctive features of judicial systems across countries around the world. Papers adopting diverse disciplinary ...