Law, society and public order
Scott Beattie
8 points
* 3 hours per week
* Second semester
* Caulfield
Objectives On completion of this subject, the student will be expected to have gained the ability to understand and analyse the links between law and society, including the nexus between social attitudes and behaviour and the implementation and enforcement of the law; be critically aware of the relationship between law and the parliamentary process; analyse relevant socio-legal and socio-political issues; understand the role and performance of law enforcement agencies in a modern democratic society.
Synopsis The aim of this subject is to develop in students a critical awareness of the relationship among law, political processes and society by particular reference to public order issues. (Public order is considered broadly to encompass the study of the ways in which order in society may be challenged and how order can be sustained). Topics analysed will include the extent to which the law should recognise any cultural, social or religious differences that may exist within a society, the role of the law in relation to personal freedom and privacy; the role of the police in a modern liberal democratic society; public order policing; the issue of private security agencies and their role in law and public order enforcement; security intelligence bodies such as ASIO, political terrorism and the state; the policing of public protests.
Assessment Essay (2500 words): 35%
* Examination (2 hours): 40%
* Tutorial presentation and paper: 25%
Recommended texts
Cottrell R The sociology of law: An introduction Butterworths, 1992
Hocking J Beyond terrorism: The development of the Australian security state Allen and Unwin, 1993
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