NCJ Number
16226
Editor(s)
D BLACK,
M MILESKI
Date Published
1973
Length
416 pages
Annotation
BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT THERE IS AN INTERPENETRATION OF LAW AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION, THIS VOLUME ESTABLISHES A FRAMEWORK FOR THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LEGAL CONTROL IN BOTH PAST AND PRESENT SOCIETIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
Abstract
THE EDITORS HAVE SELECTED 21 REPRESENTATIVE READINGS THAT DEAL WITH THE PRESCRIPTIONS OF LAW, ITS MOBILIZATION, AND THE DISPOSITION OF CASES. THESE READINGS ARE ORGANIZED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: THEORETICAL STRATEGY; LAW AND OTHER FORMS OF SOCIAL CONTROL; SOCIAL STRATIFICATION; SOCIAL MORPHOLOGY; COLLECTIVE ACTION; CULTURE; AND LEGAL ORGANIZATION. THE EDITORS BEGIN WITH AN INTRODUCTION THAT BRIEFLY DESCRIBES THE HISTORY OF ACADEMIC INTEREST IN LAW, AND THEN OUTLINES THEIR APPROACH TO THE SOCIOLOGY OF LAW, POINTING TO THE EMPIRICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE READINGS WHICH FOLLOW. THE READINGS ARE FROM THE LITERATURE OF LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP, ANTHROPOLOGY, HISTORY, AND, OF COURSE, SOCIOLOGY. THESE READINGS COVER AN ARRAY OF LEGAL PATTERNS RANGING HISTORICALLY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY FROM THE LEGAL AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF ANCIENT ROME TO THE LEGAL RELATIONS OF AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN-AND INCLUDE INFORMATION ON SUCH UNUSUAL TOPICS AS THE EUROPEAN WITCH TRIALS, COMMUNAL COURTS IN A WEST AFRICAN TRIBE, AND REVOLUTIONARY LAW IN SOVIET ASIA. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)