An Introduction to Law and Social Theory

Although most law schools recognize the value of introducing students to a broader sociological perspective on law, this usually falls short of a full engagement with sociology as an academic discipline. This text introduces a wide range of sociological traditions, and how they can be used in investigating law and legal institutions. It is organized into six sections on classical sociology of law, structural functionalism and systems theory, critical approaches, interpretive approaches, postmodernism and pluralism and globalization, and a conclusion that discusses the relationship between law and sociology. Each of the chapters is written by a specialist who reviews the literature, and discusses how the approach can be used in researching different topics.