Law and Society - An Introduction

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 differe