Course Details
Country:
France
Institution:
Sciences Po - Reims campus
Course Title:
Law and Society
Course Number:
Course Description:
The aim of this course is to expose students to the theoretical frameworks developed by
social sciences in order to examine how the law shapes society and society shapes the law.
We will begin by reading and discussing how theorists including Weber, Marx, Foucault and
others understood the role of law in society, whose interests they saw the law serving and
the law’s role in societal transformation, and will apply these theoretical perspectives to
current socio-political issues and debates. The approach we will take to studying the law will
emphasize the social, political, cultural and historical aspects of the law, rather than studying
the law through legal doctrines, statutes or judicial opinions. The last part of the course will
concentrate on the relationship between law and “cultures”. Students will be introduced to
the anthropological study of law, and to issues related to the accommodation of cultural
differences by legal systems.
Language:
English
Approved Equivalent:
GOVT 407
Attachment Files:
Syllabus (Spring 2020, updated).pdf
