Rethinking the Rule of Law for Sustainable Development in the Age of AI

Imad Antoine Ibrahim; Jon Truby; Paolo Davide Farah

doi:10.4324/9781003435136-16

Rethinking the Rule of Law for Sustainable Development in the Age of AI

Imad Antoine Ibrahim
, Jon Truby
, Paolo Davide Farah

Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter explores the evolving concept of governance in the context of sustainable development and artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the central role of the rule of law in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16). It traces how governance has developed across political, legal, and social landscapes, highlighting both the importance and the challenges of ensuring legality, judicial independence, and accountability amid crises like globalization, pandemics, and environmental degradation. The chapter underscores the need for a resilient and multi-level legal framework that incorporates emerging technologies and proposes integrating disruptive digital tools to enhance governance and sustainability outcomes. Ultimately, it examines the potential of AI to reshape governance structures and calls for ongoing research and policy innovation to bridge the gap between legal norms and practical implementation of SDG 16.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Artificial Intelligence, Governance and Sustainable Development
Subtitle of host publication	Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Editors	Imad Antoine Ibrahim, Jon Truby, Paolo Davide Farah
Place of Publication	London
Publisher	Routledge
Chapter	13
Pages	298-326
Number of pages	29
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-104049613-6
ISBN (Print)	978-103252404-7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003435136-16
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print/First online - 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Keywords

NLA

Access to Document

10.4324/9781003435136-16

Cite this

Ibrahim, I. A., Truby, J., & Farah, P. D. (2026). Rethinking the Rule of Law for Sustainable Development in the Age of AI. In I. A. Ibrahim, J. Truby, & P. D. Farah (Eds.), Artificial Intelligence, Governance and Sustainable Development: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (1 ed., pp. 298-326). Routledge. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003435136-16

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Rethinking the Rule of Law for Sustainable Development in the Age of AI. / Ibrahim, Imad Antoine; Truby, Jon; Farah, Paolo Davide.
Artificial Intelligence, Governance and Sustainable Development: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. ed. / Imad Antoine Ibrahim; Jon Truby; Paolo Davide Farah. 1. ed. London: Routledge, 2026. p. 298-326.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Rethinking the Rule of Law for Sustainable Development in the Age of AI

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AB - This chapter explores the evolving concept of governance in the context of sustainable development and artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the central role of the rule of law in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16). It traces how governance has developed across political, legal, and social landscapes, highlighting both the importance and the challenges of ensuring legality, judicial independence, and accountability amid crises like globalization, pandemics, and environmental degradation. The chapter underscores the need for a resilient and multi-level legal framework that incorporates emerging technologies and proposes integrating disruptive digital tools to enhance governance and sustainability outcomes. Ultimately, it examines the potential of AI to reshape governance structures and calls for ongoing research and policy innovation to bridge the gap between legal norms and practical implementation of SDG 16.

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EP - 326

BT - Artificial Intelligence, Governance and Sustainable Development

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ER -

Rethinking the Rule of Law for Sustainable Development in the Age of AI

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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