Race, Colonialism and Power in the Legal System

Historically, law has been designed to serve the interests of the powerful and privileged. At its worst, the legal system can be a cynical facade for violent repression. But law can also be a vital tool in the hands of the oppressed, and a means of fighting back.

This lecture series will explore the dynamics of race, class and power in the legal systems of the UK and the Commonwealth Caribbean, how those systems have been shaped by the legacy of colonialism, and how the legal system plays a dual role as an instrument of oppression and as a means for the oppressed to defend themselves.