International and Comparative Law Group

My research interests lie in the intersection between the fields of criminal law and international law. My initial specialisation was in international drug control law, the topic of my PhD, and I retain an interest in the international drug control system, but I have since written extensively on international tobacco smuggling, the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, and the law of extradition. I am particularly interested in the developing field of transnational criminal law, as that part of international criminal law in a general sense which is concerned with the suppression of transnational crime by states, and have published extensively on this topic. In addition, I have worked in the international criminal law in a strict sense, particularly on the law and history of the International Tribunal for the Far East.

Annick Masselot's research interests focus upon European Union and comparative law, specifically with regards to gender equality and equal treatment, social and employment law, reconciliation between work and family life, pregnancy and maternity rights. Her expertise on the achievement of gender equality represents a primary reference point and has both shaped the field conceptually as well as impacted directly on policy making, especially in the fields of reconciliation between work and family life, and pregnancy and maternity rights in the context of employment law and social policy. She has also researched and written extensively on the interconnection between gender equality and a wide breadth of law and societal areas, including corporate and financial governance; international trade negotiations; diversity in the sciences; aid and development; disaster risk management; democratisation, intersectional disadvantages and gender mainstreaming.

My main research interest is in disaster law, specifically the securitisation and riskification of disasters and how this affects public perception and justifies public policy.

I have recently completed a large research project on the use of economic risk rhetoric to justify the securitisation of false threats, i.e. to create the public perception of an impending existential economic catastrophe to justify exceptional government action, even if the risk of such catastrophe is exaggerated or non-existent.

My current research project investigates how securitisation and riskification can be helpful tools in preparing or responding to large scale disasters, such as pandemics or climate changeg. I am also interested in the degree to which public discourse influences the focus of biosecurity policy, and how the popular perception of biosecurity issues aligns with the reality of biosecurity policy.

Finally, I am interested in legal education, specifically in how the increased use of online teaching and learning affects student success.