Book Review: Unveiling Nuances, Empowering Voices, and Challenging Dichotomies in SouthSouth Migration Dynamics

Abstract

Olakpe's scholarly contribution is a thought-provoking addition to the discourse on South-South migration. Through an in-depth conceptual and methodological analysis of the law from below and Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), Olakpe unveils the intricate layers of migration dynamics. Departing from the conventional south-north migration paradigm, this book unpacks the nuances of south-south migration through a critical and transformative lens, reorienting the dialogue towards the subtleties that characterize this unique migration pattern. At the heart of Olakpe's approach lies her innovative utilization of case studies and legal ethnographies in Nigeria and China. These studies serve as a lens through which she illuminates the experiences of marginalized subaltern communities, offering a critique of international law's role within the context of South-South migrations. Employing the 'hermeneutics of suspicion,' this book endeavours to deconstruct overarching generalizations, contradictions, preemptive universalization, inherent biases, and power dynamics in the south-south migration paradigm.