Exeter MPhil Student Publishes a Co-Edited Volume on International Law

Aakarsh Banyal (2023, BCL; 2024, MPhil Law) has co-edited a new volume titled International Law in Pursuit of Global Justice: Reflections from Contemporary India. Set to be published by Routledge in June, the book critically rethinks India’s engagement with international law and its legal and political positioning in global systems. Banyal has been supported throughout his time at Exeter by the College’s Dr and Mrs Ambriti Salve Scholarship, awarded in conjunction with the Faculty of Law.  

Co-edited with Professor Shashikala Gurpur, Director of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, the volume explores India’s contributions to international law in areas including human rights, humanitarian law, trade and investment, the global commons, health, and dispute settlement. It also examines how international law has shaped India’s global role and what this means for the pursuit of equitable international governance. Historically, international law has been “anchored” in the global North, but International Law in Pursuit of Global Justice helps to expand the narrative to include India. “We were careful not to impose a single narrative,” Banyal notes, “but to embrace a diversity of perspectives – something that reflects the ethos of India itself.”  

The project was a significant undertaking, particularly as it coincided with Banyal’s time on the BCL, during which he was awarded a Distinction, the Tobias Law Prize, and the Volterra Fietta Faculty Prize. Reflecting on the editorial experience, he says: “I learned a great deal about international law, about publishing, and about what it means to create space for multiple voices in a shared project. It has been both rewarding and humbling.”   

International Law in Pursuit of Global Justice will interest students, scholars, practitioners, and policy-makers working at the intersection of law, geopolitics, and global justice. Exeter College congratulates Aakarsh on this achievement, which is a testament to his outstanding academic background.   

For more information, please follow this link: International Law in Pursuit of Global Justice: Reflections from Contemporary India.