Dr Mingzhe Zhu

  • Lecturer in Just Transition (School of Law)

Biography

Mingzhe Zhu is a legal theorist and historian who works on the law, human rights, and environmental changes in the past, present, and future. After completing a double bachelor's degree in law and public administration at China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), he turned to legal theory and focused on the laicisation of legal thoughts for his LLM at the same university that he always holds dear. He defended his doctoral dissertation on the transformations of French civil law doctrine in the 19th and 20th centuries at Sciences Po (2015).

Prior to his appointment at the University of Glasgow, he was Qian Duansheng Distinguished Associate Professor at CUPL (2018-2023) and held a Senior Research Fellowship at the University of Antwerp (2020-2023). He has also held visiting positions in France, Italy, Poland, Croatia, and the United States.

Research interests

Mingzhe's current research focuses on the interactions between climate and human rights regimes and the human rights implications of energy transitions.

More broadly, Mingzhe works on the links between political authority, science, and nature in the Anthropocene, with particular attention to challenging State violence and extractivist capitalism. Integrating radical political ecology in legal studies, he is committed to identifying the root causes of contemporary social and environmental disasters and exploring the transformations of law in the pursuit of a more sustainable future. 

 

Previous projects (selected):

China: A (not so) Gentle Ecological Civiliser

Using ethnographic methods, this project critically examines how Eco-civilisation (EC) and its socio-legal structure function as mechanisms of knowledge and power. It argues that EC operates as a project of cognitive and socio-political transformation, imposing a homogenous view of sustainability by creating a distinction between the “ecologically civilised,” “uncivilised,” and “civilisers”.

Making Sense of the Struggles for Equity in Energy Transitions

This project engages with studies on equitable climate policy and aims to reveal experiences within energy transitioning and the meaning given by actors to the deeds of their struggles. It compares two failing transition-policy: the 2018 carbon-tax augmentation in France and the 2017 coal ban in China. The dynamics of these projects illustrate two approaches to adjusting the management of social and emission inequality by law.

Grand Tour of French Law and Legal Thoughts in China (1877-1952)

This project provides a detailed investigation of legal transplant that highlights the strategic interactions of actors involved in foreign law reception and legal modernisation.

Publications

Selected publications

Zhu, M. (2024) Human rights approach to climate change litigation and its limits. In: Zhang, W. and Liu, H. (eds.) Chinese Yearbook of Human Rights. Brill: Leiden, pp. 137-162. ISBN 9789004697362 (doi: 10.1163/9789004697362_007)

Zhu, M. and Fan, L. (2024) A comparative study of the judicial construction of scientific credibility in climate litigation. Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law, 33(2), pp. 250-264. (doi: 10.1111/reel.12542)

Zhu, M. (2023) Climate litigation in a ‘developmental state’: the case of China. Chinese Journal of Environmental Law, 7(2), pp. 200-213. (doi: 10.1163/24686042-12340105)

Zhu, M. (2022) Biodiversity litigation in China: confronting degradation from all sides in the era of ecological civilization. In: Futhazar, G., Maljean-Dubois, S. and Razzaque, J. (eds.) Biodiversity Litigation. Oxford University Press, pp. 119-145. ISBN 9780192865465 (doi: 10.1093/oso/9780192865465.003.0005)

Zhu, M. (2022) The rule of climate policy: how do Chinese judges contribute to climate governance without climate law? Transnational Environmental Law, 11(1), pp. 119-139. (doi: 10.1017/S2047102521000212)

Zhu, M. (2022) On the judicial power's role in climate governance: an observation from the perspective of comparative law. Political Science and Law, 2022(7), pp. 18-33. (doi: 10.15984/j.cnki.1005-9512.2022.07.008)

Zhu, M. (2021) 法典化模式选择的法理辨析 = On the models of codification from the perspective of legal theory. 法制与社会发展(1), pp. 89-112.

All publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2013
Number of items: 38.

2024

Zhu, M. (2024) 发展型国家气候法治的结构与挑战 = Structure and challenges of climate law in a developmentalist country. 中国政法大学法律评论 = China University of Political Science Law Review,

Zhu, M. (2024) Human rights approach to climate change litigation and its limits. In: Zhang, W. and Liu, H. (eds.) Chinese Yearbook of Human Rights. Brill: Leiden, pp. 137-162. ISBN 9789004697362 (doi: 10.1163/9789004697362_007)

Zhu, M. and Fan, L. (2024) A comparative study of the judicial construction of scientific credibility in climate litigation. Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law, 33(2), pp. 250-264. (doi: 10.1111/reel.12542)

Ge, J. and Zhu, M. (2024) 从Steel v Houghton案看18世纪英格兰传统共有权的衰落 = Steel v Houghton and the Decline of the Commons in the 18th Century England. In: Qinhua, H. (ed.) 外国法制史研究 = Research on Foreign Legal History. Law Press China, pp. 129-172.

Zhu, M. and Yuchen, H. (2024) 创造 “无人的荒野”:从系谱学看美国国家公园制度与土著人民人权危机 = The making of the 'Untouched Wilderness': a genealogical analysis of the establishment of early American national parks. Chinese Journal of Human Rights, (Accepted for Publication)

Zhu, M. (2024) 中国气候变化诉讼的合作型实用主义模式. Journal of East China University of Political Science and Law, pp. 109-122.

Zhu, M. and Fan, L. (2024) 气候变化诉讼中司法权威与科学知识的共同生产 = The co-production of judicial authority and scientific knowledge in climate change litigation. 中外法商评论 = Chinese and Foreign Legal Business Review, 4, pp. 203-224.

Zhu, M. (2024) Promoting climate litigation via industrial law and policy? Chinese climate litigation in context. In: Cameron, C., Galvao-Ferreira, P. and Weyman, R. (eds.) Climate Change Litigation: Cases in Context. Edward Elgar Publishing. (Accepted for Publication)

2023

Zhu, M. (2023) Global Climate Litigation: Cases and Analysis. Project Report. Self-published.

Zhu, M. (2023) Climate litigation in a ‘developmental state’: the case of China. Chinese Journal of Environmental Law, 7(2), pp. 200-213. (doi: 10.1163/24686042-12340105)

Zhu, M. (2023) 法学知识的壮游 = A Grand Tour of Legal Knowledge: The History of Legal Exchanges Between China and France in Modern Times. Law Press. ISBN 9787519778743

Zhu, M. (2023) The ‘bitcoin judgements’ in China: Promoting climate awareness by judicial reasoning? Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law, 32(1), pp. 158-162. (doi: 10.1111/reel.12496)

Ren, Y. and Zhu, M. (2023) Finding God in all things: indirect evangelization and acculturation of Université l’Aurore in modern China. Religions, 14(2), 199. (doi: 10.3390/rel14020199)

2022

Zhu, M. (2022) Biodiversity litigation in China: confronting degradation from all sides in the era of ecological civilization. In: Futhazar, G., Maljean-Dubois, S. and Razzaque, J. (eds.) Biodiversity Litigation. Oxford University Press, pp. 119-145. ISBN 9780192865465 (doi: 10.1093/oso/9780192865465.003.0005)

Yang, X., Gao, Y., Zhu, M. and Springer, C. (2022) Assessing methane emissions from the natural gas industry: reviewing the case of China in a comparative framework. Current Climate Change Reports, 8, pp. 115-124. (doi: 10.1007/S40641-022-00187-5)

Zhu, M. (2022) The rule of climate policy: how do Chinese judges contribute to climate governance without climate law? Transnational Environmental Law, 11(1), pp. 119-139. (doi: 10.1017/S2047102521000212)

Maljean-Dubois, S., Monicat-Delire, A., Boisson de Chazournes, L., French, D., Kotzé, L., Seck, S., Young, M. and Zhu, M. (2022) White Paper: International Law for the Anthropocene. Documentation. French Section of the Association of International Law, Paris, France.

Yao, D. and Zhu, M. (2022) Dynamic Belt and Road Initiative and the Global South’s approach to sustainability. Göttingen Journal of International Law, 12(1), pp. 189-218. (doi: 10.3249/1868-1581-12-1-YAO-ZHU)

Zhu, M. (2022) China’s developmentalist approach to climate governance. IUCN AEL Journal of Environmental Law, 12, pp. 22-39.

Zhu, M. (2022) Human rights approach to climate change litigation and its limits. Chinese Journal of Human Rights, 3, pp. 2-20.

Zhu, M. (2022) On the judicial power's role in climate governance: an observation from the perspective of comparative law. Political Science and Law, 2022(7), pp. 18-33. (doi: 10.15984/j.cnki.1005-9512.2022.07.008)

Zhu, M. and Jun, K. (2022) 环境合作治理中的行政公益诉讼诉前程序. Zhongguo Dizhi Daxue xuebao. Shehui kexue ban, 22(2), pp. 33-44. (doi: 10.16493/J.CNKI.42-1627/C.2022.02.003)

2021

Zhu, M. (2021) 法典化模式选择的法理辨析 = On the models of codification from the perspective of legal theory. 法制与社会发展(1), pp. 89-112.

Yang, X., Lin, W., Gong, R., Zhu, M. and Springer, C. (2021) Transport decarbonization in big cities: An integrated environmental co-benefit analysis of vehicles purchases quota-limit and new energy vehicles promotion policy in Beijing. Sustainable Cities and Society, 71, 102976. (doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.102976)

Zhu, M. (2021) 法典化模式与规范制定权的分配. Eastern Journal of Law(6), (doi: 10.19404/j.cnki.dffx.20211102.006)

Zhu, M. (2021) 西法东渐中的知识自主——以里昂中法大学法学博士培养为例. Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University, pp. 139-155. (doi: 10.13806/j.cnki.issn1008-7095.2021.05.014)

Zhu, M. (2021) 法学交流的实践理论. Tsinghua University Law Journal,

Zhu, M. (2021) 多元社会中人权规范的解释路径. 人权研究(4), pp. 89-106.

Zhu, M. (2021) Country report: China: Sturm und Drang of ecological civilization. IUCN AEL Journal of Environmental Law(11), pp. 67-75.

Zhu, M. (2021) Cour maritime de Ningbo, 31 Mars 2021, (2019) Zhe 72 Minchu no 1318. Revue Generale de Droit International Public, 125(4), pp. 868-869. [Book Review]

Zhu, M. (2021) La place de l’enseignement du droit français dans la modernisation chinoise. Cahiers Jean Moulin(7), (doi: 10.4000/CJM.1454)

Zhu, M. and Moustardier, A. (2021) La place importante accordée à la protection de l’environnement au sein du Code civil. La semaine juridique. Édition générale(Sup 29), pp. 43-45.

2020

Zhu, M. (2020) Cour suprême populaire, 20 septembre 2019, (2018) Minzai No 368. Revue Generale de Droit International Public, 124(3/4), pp. 745-746.

Zhu, M. (2020) The ecologization of the Chinese Civil Code. Pravovedenie, 64(4), pp. 511-525. (doi: 10.21638/SPBU25.2020.405)

2019

Zhu, M. (2019) In the name of the Republic: family reform in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century France and China. In: Gałędek, M. and Klimaszewska, A. (eds.) Modernisation, National Identity and Legal Instrumentalism (Vol. I: Private Law). Series: Legal history library (35). Brill, pp. 254-284. ISBN 9789004395282 (doi: 10.1163/9789004417274_012)

Zhu, M. (2019) Legal philosophy of coexistence for the era of ecological civilisation. Global Law Review, 41(2), pp. 38-52.

Zhu, M. (2019) L’histoire du droit au service du droit naturel : entre l’éternité et la mutualité. In: Hakim, N. (ed.) L'histoire du droit entre science et politique. Series: Théorie et histoire du droit. Éditions de la Sorbonne. ISBN 9791035103248

2013

Zhu, M. (2013) The Laicisation of Natural Law Theories: a political history in Belle Époque. Tsinghua Review of Historical Law School,

This list was generated on Sat Dec 21 02:07:47 2024 GMT.
Number of items: 38.

Articles

Zhu, M. (2024) 发展型国家气候法治的结构与挑战 = Structure and challenges of climate law in a developmentalist country. 中国政法大学法律评论 = China University of Political Science Law Review,

Zhu, M. and Fan, L. (2024) A comparative study of the judicial construction of scientific credibility in climate litigation. Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law, 33(2), pp. 250-264. (doi: 10.1111/reel.12542)

Zhu, M. and Yuchen, H. (2024) 创造 “无人的荒野”:从系谱学看美国国家公园制度与土著人民人权危机 = The making of the 'Untouched Wilderness': a genealogical analysis of the establishment of early American national parks. Chinese Journal of Human Rights, (Accepted for Publication)

Zhu, M. (2024) 中国气候变化诉讼的合作型实用主义模式. Journal of East China University of Political Science and Law, pp. 109-122.

Zhu, M. and Fan, L. (2024) 气候变化诉讼中司法权威与科学知识的共同生产 = The co-production of judicial authority and scientific knowledge in climate change litigation. 中外法商评论 = Chinese and Foreign Legal Business Review, 4, pp. 203-224.

Zhu, M. (2023) Climate litigation in a ‘developmental state’: the case of China. Chinese Journal of Environmental Law, 7(2), pp. 200-213. (doi: 10.1163/24686042-12340105)

Zhu, M. (2023) The ‘bitcoin judgements’ in China: Promoting climate awareness by judicial reasoning? Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law, 32(1), pp. 158-162. (doi: 10.1111/reel.12496)

Ren, Y. and Zhu, M. (2023) Finding God in all things: indirect evangelization and acculturation of Université l’Aurore in modern China. Religions, 14(2), 199. (doi: 10.3390/rel14020199)

Yang, X., Gao, Y., Zhu, M. and Springer, C. (2022) Assessing methane emissions from the natural gas industry: reviewing the case of China in a comparative framework. Current Climate Change Reports, 8, pp. 115-124. (doi: 10.1007/S40641-022-00187-5)

Zhu, M. (2022) The rule of climate policy: how do Chinese judges contribute to climate governance without climate law? Transnational Environmental Law, 11(1), pp. 119-139. (doi: 10.1017/S2047102521000212)

Yao, D. and Zhu, M. (2022) Dynamic Belt and Road Initiative and the Global South’s approach to sustainability. Göttingen Journal of International Law, 12(1), pp. 189-218. (doi: 10.3249/1868-1581-12-1-YAO-ZHU)

Zhu, M. (2022) China’s developmentalist approach to climate governance. IUCN AEL Journal of Environmental Law, 12, pp. 22-39.

Zhu, M. (2022) Human rights approach to climate change litigation and its limits. Chinese Journal of Human Rights, 3, pp. 2-20.

Zhu, M. (2022) On the judicial power's role in climate governance: an observation from the perspective of comparative law. Political Science and Law, 2022(7), pp. 18-33. (doi: 10.15984/j.cnki.1005-9512.2022.07.008)

Zhu, M. and Jun, K. (2022) 环境合作治理中的行政公益诉讼诉前程序. Zhongguo Dizhi Daxue xuebao. Shehui kexue ban, 22(2), pp. 33-44. (doi: 10.16493/J.CNKI.42-1627/C.2022.02.003)

Zhu, M. (2021) 法典化模式选择的法理辨析 = On the models of codification from the perspective of legal theory. 法制与社会发展(1), pp. 89-112.

Yang, X., Lin, W., Gong, R., Zhu, M. and Springer, C. (2021) Transport decarbonization in big cities: An integrated environmental co-benefit analysis of vehicles purchases quota-limit and new energy vehicles promotion policy in Beijing. Sustainable Cities and Society, 71, 102976. (doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.102976)

Zhu, M. (2021) 法典化模式与规范制定权的分配. Eastern Journal of Law(6), (doi: 10.19404/j.cnki.dffx.20211102.006)

Zhu, M. (2021) 西法东渐中的知识自主——以里昂中法大学法学博士培养为例. Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University, pp. 139-155. (doi: 10.13806/j.cnki.issn1008-7095.2021.05.014)

Zhu, M. (2021) 法学交流的实践理论. Tsinghua University Law Journal,

Zhu, M. (2021) 多元社会中人权规范的解释路径. 人权研究(4), pp. 89-106.

Zhu, M. (2021) Country report: China: Sturm und Drang of ecological civilization. IUCN AEL Journal of Environmental Law(11), pp. 67-75.

Zhu, M. (2021) La place de l’enseignement du droit français dans la modernisation chinoise. Cahiers Jean Moulin(7), (doi: 10.4000/CJM.1454)

Zhu, M. and Moustardier, A. (2021) La place importante accordée à la protection de l’environnement au sein du Code civil. La semaine juridique. Édition générale(Sup 29), pp. 43-45.

Zhu, M. (2020) Cour suprême populaire, 20 septembre 2019, (2018) Minzai No 368. Revue Generale de Droit International Public, 124(3/4), pp. 745-746.

Zhu, M. (2020) The ecologization of the Chinese Civil Code. Pravovedenie, 64(4), pp. 511-525. (doi: 10.21638/SPBU25.2020.405)

Zhu, M. (2019) Legal philosophy of coexistence for the era of ecological civilisation. Global Law Review, 41(2), pp. 38-52.

Zhu, M. (2013) The Laicisation of Natural Law Theories: a political history in Belle Époque. Tsinghua Review of Historical Law School,

Books

Zhu, M. (2023) 法学知识的壮游 = A Grand Tour of Legal Knowledge: The History of Legal Exchanges Between China and France in Modern Times. Law Press. ISBN 9787519778743

Book Sections

Zhu, M. (2024) Human rights approach to climate change litigation and its limits. In: Zhang, W. and Liu, H. (eds.) Chinese Yearbook of Human Rights. Brill: Leiden, pp. 137-162. ISBN 9789004697362 (doi: 10.1163/9789004697362_007)

Ge, J. and Zhu, M. (2024) 从Steel v Houghton案看18世纪英格兰传统共有权的衰落 = Steel v Houghton and the Decline of the Commons in the 18th Century England. In: Qinhua, H. (ed.) 外国法制史研究 = Research on Foreign Legal History. Law Press China, pp. 129-172.

Zhu, M. (2024) Promoting climate litigation via industrial law and policy? Chinese climate litigation in context. In: Cameron, C., Galvao-Ferreira, P. and Weyman, R. (eds.) Climate Change Litigation: Cases in Context. Edward Elgar Publishing. (Accepted for Publication)

Zhu, M. (2022) Biodiversity litigation in China: confronting degradation from all sides in the era of ecological civilization. In: Futhazar, G., Maljean-Dubois, S. and Razzaque, J. (eds.) Biodiversity Litigation. Oxford University Press, pp. 119-145. ISBN 9780192865465 (doi: 10.1093/oso/9780192865465.003.0005)

Zhu, M. (2019) In the name of the Republic: family reform in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century France and China. In: Gałędek, M. and Klimaszewska, A. (eds.) Modernisation, National Identity and Legal Instrumentalism (Vol. I: Private Law). Series: Legal history library (35). Brill, pp. 254-284. ISBN 9789004395282 (doi: 10.1163/9789004417274_012)

Zhu, M. (2019) L’histoire du droit au service du droit naturel : entre l’éternité et la mutualité. In: Hakim, N. (ed.) L'histoire du droit entre science et politique. Series: Théorie et histoire du droit. Éditions de la Sorbonne. ISBN 9791035103248

Book Reviews

Zhu, M. (2021) Cour maritime de Ningbo, 31 Mars 2021, (2019) Zhe 72 Minchu no 1318. Revue Generale de Droit International Public, 125(4), pp. 868-869. [Book Review]

Research Reports or Papers

Zhu, M. (2023) Global Climate Litigation: Cases and Analysis. Project Report. Self-published.

Maljean-Dubois, S., Monicat-Delire, A., Boisson de Chazournes, L., French, D., Kotzé, L., Seck, S., Young, M. and Zhu, M. (2022) White Paper: International Law for the Anthropocene. Documentation. French Section of the Association of International Law, Paris, France.

This list was generated on Sat Dec 21 02:07:47 2024 GMT.

Prior publications

ORCiD

(2019) Legal Philosophy in the Era of Codification Tsinghua University Law Journal ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2019) Legal Philosophy of Coexistence for the Ere of Ecological Civilisation Global Law Review ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2018) Structure of Champs juridique at the China’s Republican Moment Political Science and Law ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2018) Political Theories in Justice: French Republican Laicity and Equality in Jurisprudence Concerning Religious Symbols Jurist ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2018) Eurocentrism in The Modernisation of Chinese Law Journal of Comparative Law ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2017) French Legal Education in Globalisation China Review of Legal Education ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2017) In the Name of the Republic: Family Reforms in the “Republican Moments” China Law Review ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2017) Natural Law in Front of Social Questions Tsinghua University Law Journal ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2017) Natural Law at Service of Legal History Journal of East China University of Political Science and Law ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2016) On the Combative Notion of French Laicity European Studies ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2016) Legal Universalism in Front of Nationalism, or the Defeat of French Natural Law Between Wars Pekin University Law Journal ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2016) French Legal Philosophy after World War II Graduate Law Review ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

Mingzhe Zhu, (2015) Natural law in French civil law theories (1880-1940) (hal: tel-03507128); source: HAL

(2015) Legal Transplant, Transplant of Doctrines and Tradition Tsinghua University Law Journal ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2014) The Images of ‘Legislators’ in the Renovation of French Civil Law Doctrines (1880s-1930s) Soochow Law Journal ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2014) Developments of Natural Law Theories since John Finnis’ Natural Law and Natural Rights Tsinghua Journal of Rule of Law ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

(2014) The Travels of French Legal Doctrines in China Peking University Law Review ; source: Mingzhe Zhu

Grants

1 The Making and Unmaking of Oil Cities, University of Ottawa, 3,500 EUR

2 New Trends in Climate Litigation, Natural Resources Defense Council, 6,000 EUR

3 China: The (not so) Gentle Ecological Civiliser, Research Foundation-Flanders, 198,000 EUR

4 Making Sense of the Struggles for Equity in Energy Transitions, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 30,000 EUR (rewarded but declined due to other commitments)

5 Climate Change Litigation in Comparative Perspective, Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships, 21,500 EUR (Postponed due to the pandemic)

6 Comparative Climate Governance, University of Warsaw, Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, 3,400 EUR

7 Ecologization of Law, Qian Duansheng Foundation endowment, 52,443 EUR

8 Grand Tour of Law and Legal Thoughts between China and France (1877-1952), Chinese Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, 28,000 EUR

9 Sources of Law, CUPL, CUPL Research Starting Grant, 4,000 EUR

10 Doctoral Contract, Chinese Scholarship Council, 58,000 EUR

Supervision

Mingzhe welcomes enquiries from prospective research students interested in human rights and environmental governance, climate law, and critical legal theory.

Ms Liyuan Fan (Supervisor, CUPL & Aix-Marseille University): The Co-production of Scientific & Judicial Authorities in Climate Litigation

Mr Jakub Zwierzchowski (Co-supervisor, University of Silesia): Sustainability in Private Law

Mr Hans Eyong (Co-supervisor, University of Silesia): African Regional Integration

Teaching

Climate Law & Governance

Common Law System & Methods

Jurisprudence

Law & Just Energy Transitions

Additional information

Editorial Experience

Editor:

Chinese Journal of Human Rights (incoming, 2025)

Chinese Journal of Marxism & Law

Editorial Board Member:

Chinese Journal of Environmental Law

 

Prizes & Awards

Award of Research Excellence, CUPL

Qian Duansheng Distinguished Young Scholar Award

Most Inspiring Teachers, CUPL

Sun Guohua Award for Philosophy of Law, China Law Society

Lecturer of the Year, CUPL

First Award for Comparative Law, China Law Society

 

Learned Societies

Secretary General, Chinese branch of the Association Henri-Capitant

Adjunct Secretary General, Chinese Society of Comparative Law