Description
The new third edition of Law and Society provides a balanced, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive overview of law as an essential social institution that both shapes and is shaped by society. Between this book’s covers, readers will find the theoretical and conceptual contributions of anthropologists, historians, law professors, political scientists, philosophers, psychologists, and sociologists. By synthesizing this wide range of perspectives, the book provides readers with a nuanced and in-depth context to think about, discuss, and analyze current trends, issues, and events. Through this book, readers will also grasp the many ways law affects the lives of individuals and, more generally, how law and society affect each other in matters such as dispute settlement, criminal law, social movements, inequality, and social control.
The third edition is brought up to date with the helpful reorganization of chapters. Separate chapters exploring how we define law, the differences among the major families of law, and dispute processing make the textbook more readable and adaptable to specific course objectives. Thorough revisions across the chapters reflect the latest sociolegal perspectives and research and include many new references and contemporary examples to help students appreciate a wide range of law and society issues. This thoughtful and stimulating introduction to the field is ideal for advanced undergraduate courses in Law and Society and Introduction to Law.
Table of Contents
Preface Chapter 1. The Social Nature and Significance of Law Chapter 2. Defining Law Chapter 3. Understanding Law and Society: Early Approaches and Contemporary Perspectives Chapter 4. Families of Law Chapter 5. Types of Law Chapter 6. Law and Dispute Processing Chapter 7. Dispute Processing in the United States Chapter 8. Law and Social Control Chapter 9. Law and Social Change Chapter 10. Law and Inequality Chapter 11. The Legal Profession Chapter 12. Courts and Juries Glossary Index
