Overview
Background
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.
Availability
- Dr Matt Watson is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Simon Fraser University
- Bachelor of Law, The University of British Columbia
- Masters (Coursework) of Law, Queen's University
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford
Research interests
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Philosophy of law
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Political philosophy
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Constitutional Law
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Refugee Law
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Administrative Law
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Ethics
Works
Search Professor Matt Watson’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
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.
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.
2021
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
2020
Journal Article
Diversity, democracy, and culture: An inquiry into the ethics of religious discrimination in refugee resettlement decisions
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
2019
Journal Article
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
2019
Conference Publication
Law society of British Columbia v Trinity Western University: the Supreme Court of Canada tries (and fails) to balance equality and religious freedom
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.
2019
Journal Article
Reconciling sovereignties, reconciling peoples: Should the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms apply to inherent-right Aboriginal governments?
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.
2019
Conference Publication
Law Society of British Columbia v Trinity Western University: the Supreme Court of Canada tries (and fails) to balance equality and religious freedom
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.
2019
Conference Publication
The Application of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to Inherent-right Aboriginal Governments: Addressing some Potential Obstacles
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.
2017
Conference Publication
Reconciling Peoples, Reconciling Sovereignties: Should the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Apply to Self-governing Aboriginal Communities in Canada?
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.
2017
Conference Publication
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.
2017
Conference Publication
Reconciling Peoples, Reconciling Sovereignties: Should the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Apply to Self-governing Aboriginal Communities in Canada?
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.
2016
Book Chapter
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.
2016
Book Chapter
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.
2016
Conference Publication
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.
2015
Journal Article
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
2015
Journal Article
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
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.
2014
Journal Article
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
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Matt Watson is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Waldron's Conception of the Rule of Law and Legal Theory
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Allan, Dr Robert Mullins
Media
Enquiries
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