Kojo Koram

Dr. Kojo Koram is an Associate Professor of Law at Birkbeck Law School, University of London, where he joined in 2018 after serving as a Lecturer at the University of Essex (2016-2018). His scholarship critically interrogates the intersections of law, empire, race, and political economy, with particular expertise in international legal history and the racialized dimensions of drug prohibition.

His academic foundation includes:

• LLB from the University of Kent (2010)
• Call to the Bar of England and Wales (Middle Temple, 2011)
• LLM from the University of London (2013)
• PhD in Law from the University of London (2017)

Koram's research synthesizes decolonial theory, critical legal studies, and historical materialism to expose how legal frameworks perpetuate racial and imperial hierarchies. His work consistently centers Critical Race Theory and Drugs Law within broader analyses of international legal structures, revealing the enduring legacies of colonialism in contemporary jurisprudence. He is internationally recognized for reframing the War on Drugs as a global racial project.

Analysis of his recent publications demonstrates a sustained focus on the racialized construction of international law, particularly how sacrificial violence operates within legal systems and how drug prohibition serves as a mechanism of racial control. His interdisciplinary methodology bridges legal scholarship with cultural studies and political theory to challenge Eurocentric narratives.

His distinguished recognition includes:

• The Claudia Jones Award from the Caribbean Philosophical Association (2015)
• The Julien Mezey Dissertation Award for interdisciplinary legal scholarship (2017)

As an educator, Koram jointly supervises doctoral candidates Sarah Bekkali and Stephanie Bailey while serving on the Harm Reduction International Board of Directors and Middle Temple's Equality committee, demonstrating his commitment to translating academic work into tangible social justice initiatives through policy engagement and public advocacy.

He actively contributes to the Centre for Research on Race and Law at Birkbeck, collaborating on projects that excavate the racial foundations of legal institutions and develop frameworks for decolonial legal practice.