Oleg Vasilchenko, M.A.

Research Profile

My research examines the intersection of technology and law, focusing on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and mobile courts within the judiciary system in Sabah, Malaysia. Building upon my Master’s study of law’s digitization in Singapore, I explore how these technologies are reshaping legal processes and their broader socio-political implications. My work critically analyzes how algorithms intersect with human decision-making in judicial settings, examines issues of judicial equality, and studies the impact on marginalized communities.

Key Themes:

• Use of AI in Legal Proceedings
• Mobile Courts and Access to Justice
• Judicial Role in Criminal Sentencing
• Extension of State Power through the Judiciary as an Institution
• National Identity, Ethnicity, and Statelessness
• Legal Anthropology
• Anthropology of Technology

As a participant in the International Max Planck Research School, my ethnographic study aims to provide an anthropological insight into the digital legal landscape, contributing to both national and international discussions on law, technology, and society.

Teaching Interests

My teaching aligns with my research interests, emphasizing the intersections of technology, law, and society. Courses like “Transcending Boundaries” and “The Digital and the Human” engage students in examining the impact of digital innovations on cultural and social dynamics. In “Studying-up: Ethnographic Research of Powerful Elites” and seminars on ethnographic writing, I guide students in analyzing power structures and the digitization of the legal system, fostering an understanding of anthropological critique in the context of technological change.