Dr Matt Watson is a Lecturer in the TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland. Dr Watson teaches Jurisprudence and Administrative Law. His research interests lie primarily in the fields of legal and political philosophy. Dr Watson’s core research areas include multiculturalism and minority rights (with an emphasis on minority language rights and language policy), constitutionalism, the intersection of law and politics, the liberal philosophical tradition, and all aspects of the philosophy of law. Dr Watson is currently working on a research project that enquires into the legal and moral permissibility of taking account of religious and cultural membership in refugee resettlement determinations.
Dr Watson completed his doctoral studies in law at the University of Oxford in 2016. His DPhil thesis, written under the supervision of Professor Leslie Green, inquired into the philosophical foundations of minority language rights. While at Oxford, Dr Watson led tutorials in Jurisprudence.
Conference Publication: ‘Buddhism, nature, and law: an exploratory investigation into Buddhist natural law theory’
Watson, Matt (2023). ‘Buddhism, nature, and law: an exploratory investigation into Buddhist natural law theory’. Australasian Society of Legal Philosophy, Auckland, New Zealand, 6 - 7 July 2023.
Conference Publication: Does the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms apply to inherent-right Aboriginal governments?
Watson, Matt (2023). Does the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms apply to inherent-right Aboriginal governments?. ICON-S, Wellington, New Zealand, 3 - 5 July 2023. New York, NY, United States: International Society of Public Law.
Journal Article: Rethinking neutrality: a conceptual analysis
Watson, Matt (2021). Rethinking neutrality: a conceptual analysis. Journal of Legal Philosophy, 46 (1), 1-28. doi: 10.4337/jlp.2021.01.01
Waldron¿s Conception of the Rule of Law and Legal Theory
Doctor Philosophy
Protection of ethnic minorities
Watson, Matt (2016). Protection of ethnic minorities. Max Planck encyclopedia of comparative constitutional law. (pp. 1-10) edited by Rainer Grote, Frauke Lachenmann and Rüdiger Wolfrum. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Protection of linguistic minorities
Watson, Matt (2016). Protection of linguistic minorities. Max Planck encyclopedia of comparative constitutional law. (pp. 1-10) edited by Rainer Grote, Frauke Lachenmann and Rüdiger Wolfrum. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Rethinking neutrality: a conceptual analysis
Watson, Matt (2021). Rethinking neutrality: a conceptual analysis. Journal of Legal Philosophy, 46 (1), 1-28. doi: 10.4337/jlp.2021.01.01
Watson, Matt (2020). Diversity, democracy, and culture: An inquiry into the ethics of religious discrimination in refugee resettlement decisions. Archiv für Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie, 106 (2), 214-227. doi: 10.25162/ARSP-2020-0011
Evaluating the benefits of state-led language preservation efforts
Watson, Matt (2019). Evaluating the benefits of state-led language preservation efforts. International Journal on Minority and Group Rights, 27 (3), 1-32. doi: 10.1163/15718115-02703002
Watson, Matt (2019). Reconciling sovereignties, reconciling peoples: Should the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms apply to inherent-right Aboriginal governments?. The McGill Journal of International Law and Legal Pluralism, 75-112.
Multiculturalism: A Civic Idea (2nd ed.) by Tariq Modood
Watson, Matt (2015). Multiculturalism: A Civic Idea (2nd ed.) by Tariq Modood. Political Studies Review, 13 (1), 94-94. doi: 10.1111/1478-9302.12073_105
Watson, Matt (2015). Private conscience and the public purse: a comparison and explanation of the law relating to state funding of religious schools in Canada and the United States. University of Queensland Law Journal, 34 (2), 319-340.
Linguistic Justice for Europe and for the World by Philippe Van Parijs
Watson, Matt (2014). Linguistic Justice for Europe and for the World by Philippe Van Parijs. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 35 (5), 538-540. doi: 10.1080/01434632.2013.847632
‘Buddhism, nature, and law: an exploratory investigation into Buddhist natural law theory’
Watson, Matt (2023). ‘Buddhism, nature, and law: an exploratory investigation into Buddhist natural law theory’. Australasian Society of Legal Philosophy, Auckland, New Zealand, 6 - 7 July 2023.
Does the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms apply to inherent-right Aboriginal governments?
Watson, Matt (2023). Does the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms apply to inherent-right Aboriginal governments?. ICON-S, Wellington, New Zealand, 3 - 5 July 2023. New York, NY, United States: International Society of Public Law.
Watson, Matt (2019). Law society of British Columbia v Trinity Western University: the Supreme Court of Canada tries (and fails) to balance equality and religious freedom. Melbourne Law School Legal Theory Workshop, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 9 August 2019.
Watson, Matt (2019). Law Society of British Columbia v Trinity Western University: the Supreme Court of Canada tries (and fails) to balance equality and religious freedom. University of Southern Queensland Freedom of Religion Colloquium, Toowoomba, 22 November 2019.
Watson, Matt (2019). The Application of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to Inherent-right Aboriginal Governments: Addressing some Potential Obstacles. Association for Canadian Studies in Australia and New Zealand Annual Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15 March 2019.
Watson, Matt (2017). Reconciling Peoples, Reconciling Sovereignties: Should the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Apply to Self-governing Aboriginal Communities in Canada?. Association for Canadian Studies in Australia and New Zealand 2017 Conference, Wollongong, NSW Australia, 13-14 July 2017.
Watson, Matt (2017). Reconciling Peoples, Reconciling Sovereignties: Should the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Apply to Self-governing Aboriginal Communities in Canada?. National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network 2017 Conference, Surfers Paradise, QLD Australia, 6-8 June 2017.
Rethinking Neutrality: A Conceptual Analysis
Watson, Matt (2017). Rethinking Neutrality: A Conceptual Analysis. Australasian Society of Legal Philosophy Annual Conference 2017, Auckland, New Zealand, 14-16 July 2017.
Prioritizing refugees on the basis of religion: evaluating the legal and moral constraints
Watson, Matt (2016). Prioritizing refugees on the basis of religion: evaluating the legal and moral constraints. The Future of Diversity Research (University of Michigan), Ann Arbor, MI USA, 18-20 May 2016.
Waldron¿s Conception of the Rule of Law and Legal Theory
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
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