Law researcher awarded prestigious TFD Visiting Fellowship
In recognition of his expertise in democracy and law, Dr Brian Christopher Jones, Senior Lecturer in Law, has been awarded the prestigious Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) Visiting Fellowship.
The TFD, as the first national democracy assistance foundation in Asia, is dedicated to promoting research on global democracy and human rights. The Visting Fellowship programme aims to support international scholars and practitioners interested in conducting field research in Taiwan or comparing Taiwan’s democratic experiences with those of other countries.
As part of the Fellowship, Dr Brian Christopher Jones will undertake a project titled ‘Navigating a New Era of Civil Disobedience’, in partnership with Professor Jimmy Chia-Shin Hsu from Institutum Iurisprudentiae, Academia Sinica. The fellowship will run from July – August 2024.
The research will focus on exploring the dynamics of civil disobedience in contemporary society, focussing on aspects such as: methods of disobedience; the relationship to democracy and state institutions; courts engagement in disobedience arguments; the global reach of contemporary social movements; and punishment or penalty. The project aims to delve into the theoretical frameworks surrounding civil disobedience and its implications for democratic governance.
Speaking of the fellowship award, Dr Brian Christopher Jones, Liverpool Law School, shared:
“This is a wonderful opportunity to work with one of the leading organisations in Taiwan when it comes to democracy and human rights. I very much look forward to my time this summer at the TFD!”.
Both researchers bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the project, with Dr Jones having edited two book collections on civil disobedience, including those focussed on the ‘Sunflower’ and ‘Umbrella’ Movements in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Professor Hsu has extensively analysed the responses of Taiwan’s courts to civil disobedience, including in response to the 2014 Sunflower Movement.
Through this fellowship, Dr Jones is well placed to make further strides in advancing democracy-building theory and practice on a global scale.