Associate Professor Jonathan Liljeblad
PhD (University of Southern California), JD (University of Southern California), BS (California Institute of Technology)
ANU College of Law
Areas of expertise
- International Law (Excl. International Trade Law) 180116
- Human Rights Law 180114
- Environmental And Natural Resources Law 180111
- Law And Society 180119
- Comparative Law 180106
Research interests
International Law, Human Rights, Environmental Law, Rule of Law, Law & Development
Biography
Jonathan Liljeblad received a PhD and JD from the University of Southern California (USC), an MS from the University of Washington (UW), and a BS from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). His research largely focuses on rule-of-law, with case studies from human rights and environmental issues. His fieldwork is mostly in Myanmar. Generally, his research falls within the fields of international law, rule-of-law, human rights, environmental law, law & development, and law & society. Due to the empirical nature of his research, his work connects academia, government, and civil society; seeks interdisciplinary, transboundary, and cross-cultural collaborations; and endeavors to nurture direct impact upon policy-makers and societal leaders. He was born in Myanmar, but grew up in Sweden and the United States. He received an Endeavour Research Grant (2018) and was a Fulbright Scholar (2014-2015). He currently is working on projects supported by Asia Development Bank (ADB), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Danish Institute of Human Rights (DIHR), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Researcher's projects
- Promoting Rule-of-Law Education in Myanmar--supported by funding from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Konrad Adenauer Foundation), research producing direct impact in the form of handbooks to address confusion regarding Myanmar law by educating Myanmar civil society, working professionals, and government. The first handbook addresses elements of Myanmar law related to civil society organizations (CSOs) and the second handbook addresses elements of Myanmar environmental law.
- Reforms in Myanmar's Legal Profession--related to work under the auspices of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), research analyzing the changes undertaken by actors such as the Myanmar Union Attorney General's Office (UAGO), Office of the Supreme Court of the Union (OSCU), and Independent Lawyers' Association of Myanmar (ILAM) to reform the system of laws and regulations regarding Myanmar lawyers and legal institutions.
- Legal Education Reform in Myanmar's Post-Authoritarian Transition--a study of the issues associated with Myanmar's attempts to transform its legal education system within the context of the country's transition and alongside global trends in legal education. Particular attention is paid to the introduction of topics such as human rights, environmental law, research methods, and legal ethics/professional responsibility. The work has direct impact in terms of assisting offices of Myanmar's university system in reforming the country's law schools and legal curricula.
- Indigeneity and Rule-of-Law in Myanmar--associated with the efforts of Myanmar non-government organizations (NGOs) funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project explores the introduction of indigeneity into the ethno-nationalist discourse in Myanmar and analyze the implications for Myanmar's legal reforms. The project has direct impact in terms of developing guidelines for integrating indigenous rights into ongoing reforms in Myanmar's political and legal system.
- Rule-of-Law Issues Facing Conservation in Post-Authoritarian Transitions--investigation into the challenges in law and governance impeding scientific efforts to manage and conserve Myanmar's environment, with particular attention to Myanmar's protected areas. The work has direct impact in terms of assisting Myanmar's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MoNREC) and international non-government organizations (NGOs) and national civil society organizations (CSOs) working to aid MoNREC).
- Law, Development, and World Heritage--analysis of the social, cultural, economic, and political complexities associated with the implementation of new Myanmar laws in support of its World Heritage obligations.
Publications
- Liljeblad, J 2019, 'Democracy, Rule of Law, & Legal Ethics Education: Directing Lawyers to Support Democratization in Myanmar', Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law, vol. 47, pp. 451-478.
- Liljeblad, J 2019, 'Beyond Transnational Advocacy: Lessons from Engagement of Myanmar Indigenous Peoples with the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review', Vermont Law Review, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 217-250.
- Liljeblad, J 2017, 'A Summary of the Government for the Republic of the Union of Myanmar', in Norbert Eschborn (ed.), Rule of Law Handbook for Journalists in Myanmar, United Nations Development Programme, New York, pp. 20-33.
- Liljeblad, J 2017, 'Sambor Prei Kuk: Demarcating the Relationship Between Religion & Cultural Heritage as Human Rights in Cambodia', in Peter Bille Larsen (ed.), World Heritage & Human Rights: Lessons from the Asia-Pacific & Global Arena, Routledge, London, United Kingdom, pp. 70-86.
- Liljeblad, J 2017, 'The Efficacy of National Human Rights Institutions Seen in Context: Lessons from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission', Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal`, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 95-132.
- Liljeblad, J 2017, 'The Hopi, the katsinam, and the French courts: looking outside the law in the repatriation of Indigenous cultural heritage ', International Journal of Heritage Studies, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 15-24.
- Liljeblad, J 2017, 'The Pyu Ancient Cities World Heritage application: lessons from Myanmar on transnational advocacy networks', Journal of Civil Society, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 23-35.
- Liljeblad, J 2016, 'Understanding the Complexities of Civil Disobedience for Cyberspace Protests in the Case of Aaron Swartz', Rutgers Computer & Technology Law Journal, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 196-230.
- Liljeblad, J 2016, 'The 2014 Enabling Law of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission & the United Nations Paris Principles: A Critical Evaluation', Journal of East Asia & International Law, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 427-447.
- Liljeblad, J 2016, 'Transnational Support and Legal Education Reform in Developing Countries: Findings and Lessons from Burma/Myanmar', The Loyola University Chicago International Law Review, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 133-154.
- Liljeblad, J 2015, 'A Cautionary Note Regarding Indigenous Culture and Internet Search Technology', American Indian Culture & Research Journal, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 97-111.
- Liljeblad, J 2015, 'Human Safaris: A Foucauldian Alternative to the Law's Treatment of the Indigenous Andaman Jarawa', Australian Indigenous Law Review, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 6-18.
- Liljeblad, J 2015, 'Using Foucault to construct normative guidelines for an ethics of tourist–indigenous encounters', Tourist Studies, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 65-85.
