Thinking through anthropocentrism in international law: queer theory, posthuman feminism and the postcolonial - A conversation between Emily Jones and Dianne Otto

In this conversation, we briefly outline the long-standing feminist critiques of liberal humanism in international law, as a starting point for our discussion about what a feminist approach to valuing and defending nature might be from a posthuman feminist or feminist new materialist perspective. We then consider how a posthuman feminist approach relates to the idea of granting legal personality to nature - or at least some aspects of nature - and the promises and risks of such projects. In conclusion we note the limits of the law for feminists and others seeking to centre or protect nature while also challenging the hierarchies liberal humanism and the anthropocene create, and suggest some alternative ways of thinking about the relationship between nature and international law from a feminist perspective.