LAW4130

Law and social theory 406 ( 6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader:

Offered:
Not offered in 2006.

Synopsis: The notion of 'social theory' and its relevance to an understanding of the law. Law and social solidarity (Durkheim). Law as a system of social rules (Hart, Dworkin, Critical Legal Studies). Marxist analyses of law. Post-Marxist critical approaches to law (Habermas, Foucault). The idea of the basic structure (Rawls). Law and modernity (Weber). Anthropology of law. Law and globalisation. Law and justice.

Objectives: Students will acquire or develop (1) an awareness of the significance of social theory to the understanding of law as a social phenomenon; (2) a familiarity with a number of classical and contemporary social theoretical approaches with implications for the study of legal topics; (3) an awareness of the nature of socio-legal scholarship and the different theoretical and methodogical assumptions that distinguish research and scholarship in law from that done in the social sciences and humanities; and (4) the capacity to undertake independent research on a socio-legal topic and to engage in sustained critical analysis in written assessment work.

Assessment: Research essay (4000 words): 50% + Examination (2 hours writing time plus 10 minutes reading/ settling time): 50%

Contact Hours: Three hours of lectures per week.

Prerequisites: LAW1100 or LAW1101 and LAW1102