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Professor Stewart Motha

Positions held:
  • Professor of Law, ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú Law School
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  • Overview

    Overview

    Biography

    Stewart’s current research examines law's relationship with 'nature'. This includes a critical exploration of how 'nature' is conceptualised in climate litigation and national and international environmental law; and the philosophical underpinning of the distinction between 'matter' and norms. The research is linked to questions of climate justice and legal responses to ecological crises.

    Stewart has also published widely on issues of postcolonial justice; law, memory, and violence; and theories of sovereignty. This research has been articulated through discourses of law, philosophy, and aesthetics. 

    Stewart was Executive Dean of ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú Law School, 2016-22; and Managing Editor of Law & Critique, 2015-2020. 

    In 2023, Stewart held the John Hinkley Visiting Professorship at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. He has also held visiting fellowships at Sydney Law School, Melbourne Law School, and the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS).  

    Prior to joining ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú in 2012, Stewart taught at Kent Law School. He has also taught Law in Australia, and was an Associate to the Hon. Justice Margaret Beazley - Judge of the Federal Court of Australia; Case Manager of the Native Title Unit, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc., South Australia; and a Consultant to the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action.

    Stewart's most recent book,  (Michigan University Press) was published in 2018. 


    In 2020, he launched a podcast series called . Stewart and guests discuss books, films, and other materials from across disciplines to consider new perspectives on law, difference, and being in common.

    Stewart lectures on Foundations of Property; Law, History, and Political Violence; Law, Nature, and Planetary Justice.

    Highlights



    • - a podcast series where Stewart and guests discuss books, films, and other materials from across disciplines which open new perspectives on law, difference, and plural existence.

    Office hours

    Mondays 4-5pm

    Web profiles

    Administrative responsibilities

    • Chair of ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú College Race Equality Charter Self-Assessment Team
  • Research

    Research

    Research interests

    • Sovereignty
    • Postcolonial law and theory
    • Constitutionalism
    • Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment
    • Law and aesthetics
    • Indian Ocean studies
    • South Asian studies
    • Australian legal studies
    • Transformative justice
    • Problems of law, time and justice
    • Environmental Law and Theory
    • Anthropocene and new materialism
    • Legal Philosophy

    Research overview

    Stewart's book,  (Michigan University Press), arose out of research into how law functions as an archive of sovereign violence. The book also offers an elaboration of the ‘as if’ (the consciously false, or fiction) at the heart of modern law. Reworking the notion of the ‘archive’, the book addresses the sovereign event in Australia, South Africa, and the Indian Ocean region as a problem of law’s capacity to retain and disavow sovereign violence at the same time. This memorial function of law is elaborated through juridical case studies, and literary and other artistic works.


  • Supervision and teaching

    Supervision and teaching

    Supervision

    Supervisions within ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú:
    5

    I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students who are interested in undertaking research in any of my areas of research interest.

    If you are interested in pursuing research in any of these areas, you should first read our on how to apply for MPhil/PhD research before submitting an application.


    Current doctoral researchers

    • SOPHIE ANSON
      Nature of supervision:
      PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,
      Title of thesis:
      Mapping the New Neighbourhood Watch: Digital Community Policing as Spatial Governance

    Doctoral alumni since 2013-14

    • KANIKA GAUBA
      Nature of supervision:
      Principal Supervisor,
      Title of thesis:
      Violence and the Indian Constitutional Founding
      Description:

      This thesis examines the birth of the Indian republic amidst the subcontinent's violent partition in 1947. Where the moment of founding is framed by violence, how does the law constitute political community, i.e., the 'People', who are both authors of the constitutional text and enactors of violence against the neighbour? Reading debates on the problem of minorities in the Constituent Assembly, this study explores the intertwined nature of commitments of sovereignty and fraternity in post-independence India.

      Awarded:
      2026
    • CARSON ARTHUR
      Nature of supervision:
      Joint Principal Supervisor,
      Awarded:
      2024
    • CAROLINA AMADEO
      Nature of supervision:
      Principal Supervisor,
      Awarded:
      2026
    • TSHEPO MADLINGOZI
      Nature of supervision:
      Joint Principal Supervisor,
      Awarded:
      2018

    Teaching

    Foundation of Property

    Law, Nature, and Planetary Justice (LLM module)

    Law, History, and Political Violence

    Teaching modules

    • Law, Nature, and Planetary Justice
    • Foundations of Property (Senior Status)
    • Foundations of Property
  • Publications

    Publications

    Article

    • Motha, Stewart (2025) . Journal of Law and Society ISSN 0263-323X.
    • Motha, Stewart (2025) . Journal of Law and Society 52 (3), ISSN 0263-323X.
    • Kouvo, S. and Motha, Stewart (2025) . Law, Culture and the Humanities ISSN 1743-8721.
    • Motha, Stewart (2022) . Studies in Law, Politics, and Society 87B, pp. 1-18. ISSN 1059-4337.
    • Motha, Stewart (2016) . Law and Critique 27 (1), pp. 17-21. ISSN 0957-8536.
    • Motha, Stewart (2015) . UC Irvine Law Review 5 (2), pp. 327-328. ISSN 2327-4514.
    • Jones, S. and Motha, Stewart (2015) . Law and Literature 27 (2), pp. 253-278. ISSN 1535-685X.
    • Motha, Stewart (2012) . Law, Culture and the Humanities 8 (3), pp. 390-397. ISSN 1743-8721.
    • Motha, Stewart (2011) . Constitutional Court Review (4), pp. 113-136. ISSN 2073-6215.
    • Motha, Stewart and Rentea, S. and Zevnik, A. (2011) . Law and Critique 21 (2), pp. 97-100. ISSN 0957-8536.
    • Motha, Stewart (2010) . Theory, Culture & Society 27 (7-8), pp. 285-305. ISSN 0263-2764.
    • Motha, Stewart (2009) . Law, Culture and the Humanities 5 (2), pp. 228-246. ISSN 1743-8721.
    • Motha, Stewart (2009) . SA Public Law 24 (1-2), pp. 297-327. ISSN 0258-6568.
    • Motha, Stewart (2007) . Journal of Law and Society 34 (1), pp. 139-162. ISSN 0263-323X.
    • Motha, Stewart (2005) . Australian Feminist Law Journal 22, pp. 107-125. ISSN 1320-0968.
    • Motha, Stewart and Zartaloudis, Thanos (2003) . Social and Legal Studies 12 (2), pp. 243-268. ISSN 0964-6639.
    • Motha, Stewart (2002) . Law and Critique 13 (3), pp. 311-338. ISSN 0957-8536.
    • Motha, Stewart (1998) . Griffith Law Review 7 (1), pp. 79-96. ISSN 1038-3441.

    Book

    • Motha, Stewart (2018) . Law, Meaning, and Violence. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472073863.
    • Motha, Stewart and van Rijswijk, H., eds. (2016) . Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138830639.
    • Van Marle, K. and Motha, Stewart, eds. (2014) . The STIAS Series. pp. 15-28. Stellenbosch, SA: Sun Press. ISBN 9781920689025.
    • Buchanan, R. and Motha, Stewart and Pahuja, S., eds. (2012) . pp. 87-101. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9780415568548.
    • Motha, Stewart, ed. (2007) . Blackwell Publishers. ISBN 9781405163132.

    Book section

    • Motha, Stewart (2021) . In: Chalmers, S. and Pahuja, S. (eds.) Routledge Handbook of International Law and the Humanities. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-International-Law-and-the-Humanities/Chalmers-Pahuja/p/book/9780367773458.
    • Motha, Stewart (2020) . In: De Gamboa Tapias, C. and Van Roermund, B. (eds.) Just Memories: Rememberance and Restoration in the Aftermath of Political Violence. Series on Transitional Justice. Antwerp, Belgium and Oxford, UK: Intersentia. pp. 135-158. ISBN 9781780689081.
    • Motha, Stewart and van Rijswijk, H. (2016) . In: Motha, Stewart and van Rijswijk, H. (eds.) Law, Memory, Violence Uncovering the Counter-Archive. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138830639.
    • Motha, Stewart (2016) . In: Motha, Stewart and van Rijswijk, H. (eds.) Law, Memory, Violence Uncovering the Counter-Archive. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138830639.
    • Ertür, BaÅŸak (2016) . In: Motha, Stewart and van Rijswijk, H. (eds.) Law, Violence, Memory: Uncovering the Counter-Archive. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. pp. 177-194. ISBN 9781138830639.
    • Motha, Stewart (2016) . In: Sarat, A. and Douglas, L. and Umphrey, M. (eds.) Law's Mistakes. The Amherst Series in Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought. Amherst, U.S.: University of Massachusetts Press. pp. 18-43. ISBN 9781625341938.
    • Motha, Stewart and van Rijswijk, H. (2016) . In: Motha, Stewart and van Rijswijk, H. (eds.) Law, Violence, Memory: Uncovering the Counter-Archive. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138830639.
    • Hanafin, Patrick (2014) . In: Van Marle, K. and Motha, Stewart (eds.) Genres of Critique: Law, Aesthetics and Liminality. The STIAS Series. Stellenbosch, SA: Sun Press. pp. 131-144. ISBN 9781920689025.
    • Tuitt, Patricia (2014) . In: Van Marle, K. and Motha, Stewart (eds.) Genres of Critique: Law, Aesthetics and Liminality. The STIAS Series. Stellenbosch, SA: Sun Press. pp. 73-88. ISBN 9781920689025.
    • Motha, Stewart (2014) . In: Van Marle, K. and Motha, Stewart (eds.) Genres of Critique: Law, Aesthetics and Liminality. The STIAS Series. Stellenbosch, SA: Sun Press. pp. 89-106. ISBN 9781920689025.
    • Motha, Stewart and Van Marle, K. (2014) . In: Van Marle, K. and Motha, Stewart (eds.) Genres of Critique: Law, Aesthetics and Liminality. The STIAS Series. Stellenbosch, SA: Sun Press. pp. 15-28. ISBN 9781920689025.
    • Macmillan, Fiona (2012) . In: Buchanan, R. and Motha, Stewart and Pahuja, S. (eds.) Reading Modern Law: Critical Methodologies and Sovereign Formations. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. pp. 87-101. ISBN 9780415568548.
    • Motha, Stewart (2012) . In: Svirsky, M. and Bignall, S. (eds.) Agamben and Colonialism. Critical Connections. Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 128-154. ISBN 9780748643943.
    • Fitzpatrick, Peter (2012) . In: Buchanan, R. and Motha, Stewart and Pahuja, S. (eds.) Reading Modern Law: Critical Methodologies and Sovereign Formations. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. pp. 193-210. ISBN 9780415568548.
    • Motha, Stewart (2007) . In: le Roux, W. and Van Marle, K. (eds.) Post-apartheid Fragments: Law, Politics and Critique. Imagined South Africa. Pretoria, South Africa: UNISA Press. ISBN 9781868884056.
    • Motha, Stewart (2007) . In: Correas, O. (ed.) Pluralismo Jurídico: Nuevos Horizontes. Editorial Coyoacan de la Ciudad de México.
    • Motha, Stewart (2007) . In: Veitch, S. (ed.) Law and the Politics of Reconciliation. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138274624.
    • Motha, Stewart (2007) . In: Mcveigh, S. (ed.) Jurisprudence of Jurisdiction. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781138992863.

    Editorial

    • Motha, Stewart and Perrin, C. (2002) . Law and Critique 13 (3), pp. 231-232. Springer. ISSN 0957-8536.