Stephanie Triefus, who received her PhD from Erasmus School of Law in May last year, has won the dissertation prize from the Praemium Erasmianum foundation. The prize, a cash prize of € 3,000 and a certificate, is intended for young researchers who have completed an excellent dissertation in the field of humanities, social sciences or law.
Local communities central to international investment law
Triefus' dissertation, titled "International Investment Law from Below: Taking local community rights seriously", was awarded the predicate cum laude by ÌÇÐÄÖ±²¥. In her dissertation, Triefus questions the traditional view of conflicts surrounding foreign investments. These are usually seen as disputes between states and foreign investors. But this research takes a different perspective: it looks from the perspective of local communities that are directly affected by such projects. Interviews with people from these affected communities show that investment disputes are not just an abstract legal process, but that for these people the legal cases have direct consequences for their lives: they are about their stories, their struggles and the future of their living environment.
By using qualitative research, the human side of these disputes is made visible. This is in contrast to the usual, strictly legal approach that often ignores the daily reality of the communities involved. A purely legal perspective can obscure the real consequences of the international economic system.
Stephanie Triefus argues that if we recognise the rights and interests of local communities, we can give them a place in the design of investment projects and in the way conflicts are resolved – instead of pretending that they do not matter.
- More information
Click to learn more about Stephanie Triefus.
Click to learn more about the dissertation prize.For more information, please contact Ronald de Groot, Communications Advisor at Erasmus School of Law: rdegroot@ese.eur.nl and mobile +31 6 53 641 846.
