Professor Melissa Crouch
BA/LLB (Hons), University of Melbourne
PhD, University of Melbourne
Melissa's research interests include law and society;Ìýcomparative constitutional studies;Ìýand law and religion, with a focus on Indonesia and Myanmar. Her research approach is informed by legal ethnography, sociology of law, and historical anthropology. HerÌýis on the military as a constitutional actor in Asia, supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship. This project builds on her earlier ARC Discovery Project on constitutions in authoritarian regimes, which focused on Myanmar (2018-23). Her recent book, (OUP, 2025), was awarded the inaugural (IACL-AIDC) and received an Honorable Mention for the .
Her research contributes to socio-legal approaches to constitutionalism in the Global South, with an emphasis on the social lives of constitutions, the legacies of law in the post-colony, and legal pluralism. She has published in peer-reviewed journals including LawÌý& Society Review, Law & Social Inquiry, Annual Review of Law & Social Sciences,ÌýOxford Journal of Legal Studies ²¹²Ô»åÌýInternational Journal of Constitutional Law. She is the author ofÌýÌý(2019) ²¹²Ô»åÌýÌý(2014).ÌýSheÌýis the editor of several volumes, including (OUP 2023),Ìý (CUP 2021) and (CUP 2019).Ìý
She is a Fellow of the . She is the recipient of the Ìý2022 for outstanding scholarship of an early career socio-legal scholar, awarded by the Research Committee on the Sociology of Law, the .ÌýShe has also been awarded a , Kyoto University, Japan; the University of Indonesia Visiting Fellowship; and the University of Melbourne K.Ìý
At 91É«ÇéƬ, she runs the Asia Law & Policy Forum.ÌýFrom 2019-21 she was Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Law. Prior to 91É«ÇéƬ, she worked at the National University of Singapore, the International Institute for Asian Studies (Leiden), the University of Melbourne and Monash University.Ìý
She serves across a range of international, regional and national academic associations, including as co-editor of the ; Book Review co-editor, Law & Society Review (with Amy Cohen, 2025-28); Past President,ÌýÌý(2025-26); Editorial Board, Asian Journal of Comparative Law; and Advisory Board of the Indonesian Journal of Socio-legal Studies, and the Asian Journal of Law & Society, among others.Ìý
Ìý
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2026, workshop at 91É«ÇéƬ
2025-28, Australian Research Council,ÌýÌý(awarded 2024)
2021-23, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade Sri Lanka Knowledge & Linkages for an Inclusive Economy Grant on ', in partnership with Dr Mario Gomez, International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Sri LankaÌý
2019-20, Australia-ASEAN Council grant,ÌýWing Wah Tham
2019, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung grant forÌýworkshop on
2019, ASAA Workshop Grant for bursaries for students to attend the 'at 91É«ÇéƬ
2019, Australian Academy of Humanities, grant to support the Early Career Workshop of the at 91É«ÇéƬ
2019, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung grant forÌýworkshop onÌýthe Panel Stream
2018-21, ARC Discovery Grant, Chief Investigator, "
2017-19, 91É«ÇéƬ IGD Myanmar Seed Funds, "
2016-19, Asian Development Bank,
2016, New Colombo Plan funding forÌý91É«ÇéƬ Myanmar Law Ambassadors ProgramÌý(scholarships for law students).
2016-17,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý91É«ÇéƬ Indonesia Seed Grant, with Dr Fritz Siregar, University of Indonesia, Jakarta. Project:Ìý‘Administrative Justice in Indonesia’.
2016, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS),Ìý, Workshops with the Constitutional Tribunal of Myanmar, (with T Roux).
2015-18, Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)ÌýÌý on Building Constitutionalism in Myanmar (with W Sadurski, T Roux, M Krygier and C Renshaw).
2015, Faculty Research Grant, Project:ÌýFrom Military Rule to Rule of Law in Myanmar;ÌýEarly Career Grant;ÌýFaculty Workshop Support Scheme, 91É«ÇéƬ Law:Ìý
2014-15, Harvard Law School'sÌý, Project: ‘Authority and Islam: An Ethnography of Fatwa in Myanmar’
2013-14, Research & Conference Grant, Project: ‘Law, Governance & Minorities in Myanmar’;Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýMyanmar Law Reform Project Fund (for workshops in Myanmar),Ìý, National University of Singapore
2012–13, Postdoctoral Research Support Funds, Law Faculty, National University of Singapore
2012,Ìý
2010, Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarship; MA Bartlett Research Scholarship Fund Competitive Funding; and Research Support Funds, the University of Melbourne
2026, Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research SupervisionÌý
2026, Awarded Honorable Mention by the Book Prize for The Palimpsest Constitution
2026, Awarded the (IACL-AIDC) for The Palimpsest Constitution
2026, Senior Fellow, Centre for Advanced Studies, Reflexive Globalisation and the Law, Reglo, Berlin, Germany (declined)
2025,ÌýPostgraduate Supervisor of the Year Award (Law), Postgraduate Council and Graduate Research School, the University of New South Wales
2024, ,
2024, , the State University of New York at Buffalo (6 months)
2024, Postgraduate Supervisor of the Year Award (Law), Honorable Mention,ÌýPostgraduate Council and Graduate Research School, the University of New South Wales
2023, (for the article 'Judicial Loyalty to the Military in Authoritarian Regimes' Law & Social Inquiry 2022)
2023, Visiting Research Fellowship, , Kyoto University, Japan (3 months)
2022, for outstanding scholarship of an early career socio-legal scholar, awarded by the Research Committee on the Sociology of Law, International Sociological Association.
2022, Visiting Scholars Scheme, Faculty of Law, University of Diponegoro (Semarang, Indonesia)
2021, Visiting Scholars Scheme, Faculty of Law, University of Brawijaya (Malang, Indonesia)
2021,ÌýÌý(Law)Postgraduate Council and Graduate Research School, the University of New South Wales
2021, Finalist,Ìý of the Ìý
2020, Shortlisted for the inaugural of the Council of Australian Law Deans, for the book The Constitution of Myanmar: A Contextual Analysis
2019, , "Legal Legacies of Authoritarian Regimes"
2018,Ìýl, University of Melbourne
2017, University of Indonesia Resolv Visiting Scholars Fellowship, Faculty of Law (Jakarta, Indonesia)
2012, International Institute of Asian Studies, Visiting Fellowship, the Netherlands
2009, Endeavour Australia Research Fellowship
2008-11, Australian Research Council Federation FellowshipÌý‘Islam & Modernity in Southeast Asia' () Doctoral Scholarship and Travel Scholarships
Service to Academic Associations and Editorial Boards
Co-editor, (2026-), with Marc Hertog (Utrecht), Heinz Klug (Wisconsin), Gavin Sullivan (Edinburgh) & Jennifer Raso (McGill)
Book Review Co-Editor, (2026-27), with Amy Cohen
Past President & Councillor,ÌýÌý(2025-26)
Board member, Research Committee of the Sociology of Law (RCSL) (2024-25)Ìý
Editorial Board, (2023-)
Editorial Board, (2023-24)Ìý
Advisory Board, , Faculty of Law, University of Trunojoyo, Madura, Indonesia (2023-)
Advisory Board, , Dept of Constitutional Law, Shariah Faculty, Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Intan Lampung, Indonesia (2023-)
Editorial Board, (est. 2021-)
Editorial Board, , Faculty of Sharia and Law, State Islamic University of Walisongo, Indonesia (2022-)
Reviewer, , University of Airlangga (2022-)
Editorial Board, , Indonesian Consortium for Human Rights Lecturers (2021-)
Editorial Board, , Sharia Faculty, Institut Agama Islam Negeri Batusangkar (2021-)
Editorial Board, , Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry, Banda Aceh, Indonesia (2019-)
Editorial Board, , State Islamic University of Bandung, Indonesia (2019-)
Advisory Board, , Samarinda Institute of Islamic Studies, IAIN, Indonesia (2018-)
Editorial Board,ÌýÌýNational University of Singapore
Editorial Board, , ASAA, NUS Press
Editorial Board, , ASAA, Routledge
Member, Law and Society Association;ÌýAsian Studies Association of Australia;ÌýAsian Law and Society Association; International Society of Public Law (ICON-S); International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL); Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies
Senior Associate, Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society, University of Melbourne
Former roles
President,ÌýÌý(2023-24); organised John Legge Best Thesis Prize; Reid Book Prize
Committee member for Best Article Prize, Asian Law & Society Association (2024)
Vice-president,ÌýAsian Studies Association of Australia (2021-22), Wang Gungwu Best Article Prize
Secretary, Association for Mainland Southeast Asia Scholars (AMSEAS) (2017-19)
Secretary, Asian Studies Association of Australia (2019-20), and Committee member, Wang Gungwu Best Article Prize; Early Career Book Prize; Postdoctoral Writing Grant; Postgraduate Bursary Awards
Committee member, PhD Award, Australian Law Research Awards (CALD) (2020)
Advisory Board, Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS), IndonesianÌýLaw Practicum (2018)
Ìý
My Teaching
My teaching interests include Constitutionalism in the Global South; Law and Society; Asian Legal Studies; Constitution-making; Comparative Law; Legal Ethnography, and Law and Religion in Asia.ÌýI have taught a range of workshops overseas, including on Judicial Independence; Principles and Processes of Constitution-making; The Role of Courts in Democratisation; Constitutional Courts in Federal Systems; Federalism and Minority Rights; and Emergency Powers.ÌýAt 91É«ÇéƬ, I teach ),ÌýÌý(LAWS8375/JURD7975); and Principles of Public Law (LAWS1141). I have also taughtÌý (LAWS3167; JURD7567; LAWS8500).Ìý
I am interested in considering proposals for research supervision in the following areas: law and society; comparative constitutional law; legal ethnography; and law and religion. This includesÌýcomparative or socio-legal studies in the Global South, particularly South and Southeast Asia, Indonesian law (constitutional law, administrative law, criminal law, legal pluralism and Islamic law); and Myanmar law (public law, legal pluralism and socio-legal studies). I am available to supervise LLB, LLM and PhD research thesis.
SupervisionÌý
Current PhD supervisions:
Luwie Ganeshathasan, Taming the National Security President: Understanding the Jurisprudence of Sri Lanka's Superior Courts Regarding Presidential Authority on National Security
Naung Naung, Beyond the Military Constitution: Everyday Governance in Myanmar (91É«ÇéƬ scholarship)
Natasha Naidu, 'The System of Indian indentured labour in Fiji: A Socio-legal Analysis' (Westpac Asia Scholar)
Jessica Marpaung, 'The Eradication of Gender-Based Violence against Women in Indonesia' (Australia Awards scholarship)
Ali Salmande, The Role of Indonesian Domestic Courts in Promoting ASEAN Regional Integration' (LPDP scholarship)
Raisa Annisa, 'Conflict of Interest in Policy Responses during an Emergency in Indonesia' (91É«ÇéƬ scholarship)
Abdul Halim, 'The Regulation of Judges in Indonesia' (Australia Awards scholarship)
Titis Anindyajati, 'The Enforcement of Indonesian Constitutional Court Decisions' (LPDP scholarship)
Tirtawening Parikesit, 'Access to Justice for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse in Indonesia' (LPDP scholarship)
Mohammad Ibrahim, 'Stealth Theocracy in Democratic Indonesia' (91É«ÇéƬ scholarship)
Tito Bramantyo Aji, 'The Business Judgement Rule in Indonesia (LPDP scholarship)
Supervision completions (PhD)Ìý
Mhd Abu Sayeed, 'Constitutionalism of the Other: Non-Sovereign Politics in Gandhi and Agamben' (91É«ÇéƬ scholarship)
Chuhunvoleak Srun, 'Access to Justice in Cambodian Commercial Land Disputes' (91É«ÇéƬ scholarship)
Ayesha Wijayalath, 'Constraining Abusive Constitutional ChangeÌýin Sri Lanka' (Scientia Fellow)
Maidina Rahmawati, 'Restorative Justice in the Criminal Investigation Process in Indonesia' (LLM) (Australia Awards)
Emma Dunlop, 'Justice in Exile: A study of stateÌýobligations to ensure refugees access to courts under international law' (91É«ÇéƬ scholarship)
Ashraf Azad, 'Irregular Migration of Rohingya Refugees from Myanmar to Bangladesh and Malaysia' (91É«ÇéƬ scholarship)
Nikki Edwards, 'Civil Society and Legal Activism in Southeast Asia' (external, USyd)
Mahaarum Kusuma Pertiwi, 'Religion and the Indonesian Constitutional Court' (external, Macquarie)
Luke Potter, 'Decentralised Government and Disaster Displacement ReductionÌýin Small Island States in the Pacific'
Indriaswati Dyah Saptaningrum, ‘Internet Regulation in Indonesia 1990-2018: An Inquiry into a Contested Regulatory Field' (Australia Awards)
Xu Zhuangsi, ‘The Implications of International Human Rights Law on China’s Protection of MinorityÌýLanguage Rights’Ìý
Milda Istiqomah, 'Factors Contributing to Terrorism Sentencing Outcomes in Indonesia' (LPDP scholarship)
Supervision completions (JD, LLB, LLM)
LLM research thesis, Erasmus AT Napitupulu, Reforming the Criminal Procedure Code in Indonesia' (Australia Awards)
LLM research thesis, Maidina Rahmawati, 'The Role of Restorative Justice: A Case Study of Drug Offences in Indonesia' (Australia Awards)
LLM research thesis, Yance Arizona, 'Becoming Indigenous Citizens in Indonesia' (external, Onati)
JD research thesis: Sai Myint Aung, 'Law and Economic Development in Myanmar: A Case Study of the Central Bank'
LLB research thesis: Jarrod Mitchell, 'Community Stability and Adat Law in Indonesia';ÌýGoran Matic, 'Toward a Modern Egyptian Constitution'; Elsa Lo, 'A Constitutionally Islamic Malaysia'