Joseph Slaughter

Joseph Slaughter is an Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University's School of the Arts. He serves as a founding co-editor of Humanity: An International Journal of Human Rights, Humanitarianism, and Development and has held leadership roles such as President of the American Comparative Literature Association (2016). His work bridges literature, law, and socio-cultural history, particularly focusing on the Global South (Latin America and Africa).

Research interests include the intersection of literature with human rights, intellectual property, and international law. He explores how narrative forms (e.g., Bildungsroman) shape legal frameworks and social justice discourses. His landmark book Human Rights, Inc. (2007) won the René Wellek Prize and examines the relationship between human rights law and literary traditions.

Recent projects include Pathetic Fallacies (manuscript) on humanitarianism and law, and New World Orders addressing intellectual property's role in globalizing the novel. He co-edits The Global South Atlantic, analyzing transatlantic cultural exchanges between Africa and Latin America.

• Honors: Guggenheim Fellowship (20xx), Lenfest Award (20xx), Public Voices Fellowship
• Key Themes: Human Rights Narratives, Postcolonial Theory, Legal Anthropology, World Literature