Cyanne Loyle, the Jeffrey L. Hyde and Sharon D. Hyde and Political Science Board of Visitors Early Career Professor of Political Science at Penn State, recently delivered a TEDx talk examining how governments can use legal systems as tools of political power.
In the talk, Loyle explores the concept of “lawfare,” a practice in which governments deploy laws and judicial institutions not to protect citizens but to punish political opponents or consolidate authority. Because these actions are carried out through legal processes, they can be difficult to recognize. Loyle argues that understanding that laws are not inherently neutral and often reflect the interests of those who make them is an important first step in identifying and resisting lawfare.
Watch the talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTHzHSEZNWU
