Professor Powell specializes in international law and international courts, as well as the nexus between Islamic law (sharia) and international law. Her prominent publications include a book published in Cambridge University Press (2011) entitled Domestic Law Goes Global: Legal Traditions and International Courts (with Sara McLaughlin Mitchell), and several articles in top political science academic journals such as International Organization, Journal of Politics, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Peace Research, Journal of Conflict Resolution. Her new book project entitled Islamic Law States and International Law: Peaceful Settlement of Disputes provides a comprehensive examination of differences and similarities between sharia and the classical international law, especially in the context of dispute settlement.