Introduction
W. Richard and Mary Eshelman Faculty Scholar, Professor of Law and International Affairs at Pennsylvania State University (B.A. Brandeis University; M.P.P. Harvard University Kennedy School of Government; J.D. Columbia University). Rresearches in the areas of economic globalization, corporate social responsibility (including human rights and sustainability/climate change), international affairs, global governance, trade and finance, and on Party-State systems, with specific focus on China and Cuba. Teaches courses in corporate law, CSR-RBC, multinational corporations, international institutions, as well as on religion and constitutional law (liberal democratic and Marxist-Leninist) . Lectured in Latin America, Europe and Asia. In addition to journal articles and contributions to collected multi-authored works, his publications include "Elements of Law and the U.S. Legal System "(Carolina Academic Press forthcoming 2021), "Hong Kong Between 'One Country' and 'Two Systems':" (Little Sir Press, forthcoming 2020); "Cuba’s Caribbean Marxism: Essays on Ideology, Government, Society, and Economy in the Post Fidel Castro Era" (Little Sir Press 2018); "Lawyers Making Meaning: The Semiotics of Law in Legal Education II" (Springer, 2013) (with Jan M. Broekman) "Comparative Corporate Law" (Carolina Academic Press 2002), and edited collections of essays, "Signs in Law, a Source Book—The Semiotics of Law in Legal Education" (with Jan M. Broekman, Springer, 2014) "Harmonizing Law in an Era of Globalization" (Carolina Academic Press, 2007). He has published over one hundred articles and book chapters in journals in the U.S., Latin Americas, China, and Europe, where he has also lectured. His short essays on many of these topics may be found on his blogsite: “Law at the End of the Day” (https://lcbackerblog.blogspot.com/). Spainsh fuent; reading knowledge French, Italian, Portuguese.
Expert
Business and human rights: have been involved in the development and then development of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights since 2008; extensive research and published work on various aspects especially focusing on the 2nd Pillar corporate resposnibility to respect human rights, and the role of state owned enterprises and sovereign wealth funds in these structures.
Globalization: have undertaken research focusing on multinational enterprises and their role with and through global production chains, as well as the role of transnational production of goods, investment, culture, and social norms. In this context produced research on theory and emergence of transnational and private law and norm systems.
Marxist-Leninist Systems: have undertaken substantial research (conceptual and theoretical work) on Mraxist Leninist systems in the 21st cetury focusing primarily on Cuba and China.
Data Driven Governance/ Big Data Systems/ AI: undertaking research on theory and application of data driven, metrics based governance, Chinese social credit systems, interlinked ratings and disciplinary systems in the West, and the role of platforms and platform governance in national and transnational spaces.
Fields of expertise: Financing for inclusive development, Monitoring and evaluation, Social innovation / public sector innovation / policy innovation, Social policy, Strategic planning, Sustainable Development Goals