About research

The research in the Faculty of Law consists of six legal area transcending, multidisciplinary and internationally orientated research programmes in which the research is approached in a Governance perspective^*
 

Governance perspective

A sustainable society requires that laws and dispute resolution, in short the legal organization of a society, meet good governance standards. Research has shown time and again that this is necessary for economic growth, democratic development, and the prevention of social conflict in general. The faculty of law of the University of Groningen wishes to contribute to sustainable societies – both in the Netherlands and abroad – by adopting a governance perspective.

Broadly intended, governance could be defined as decision- and policy-making within a group of persons or within an institution, or within a system of institutions. It means governing with or without the government, policy-making with or without politics. Speaking of good governance, one may argue that the best governance of an institution is the one which combines a maximum of efficiency with a maximum of democracy, transparency, accountability, sustainability, and respect for fundamental/human rights and the rule of law.

The six programmes of the Groningen Law Faculty may be seen as the six faces of a cube which content is good governance in the law. These six programmes explore the development of national and supranational legal systems towards good or better societal governance, from six different angles:

1. Effective Criminal Law 

2. Energy and Sustainability

3. Protecting European Citizens and Market Participants

4. Practicable Private Law

5. Public Interests and Private Relationships

6. Public Trust and Public Law

Furthermore, the research of the Faculty of Law contains one legal area specific programme: 
Bronnen van Byzantijns-Romeins recht. 

 

* The research programmes have been submitted for approval to the Faculty Board and the Faculty Council.