What is the law? In democratic societies, we generally conceive of law as something “out there,” a clear set of rules and requirements of citizenship that are established in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government. The law and society tradition challenges these ideas by examining how law is created, interpreted, and enacted in everyday practices. This course focuses on the social construction of law in its social context, paying special attention to how individuals become aware of law, how they mobilize law in specific circumstances, how those with power over legal resources distribute them (often unequally), and how organizations structure the implementation of law.
topics covered
Frontline Work
Law and Social Movements
Legal Consciousness
Naming, Blaming, and Claiming
Organizations: The "Law-in-Between"
Racial Profiling
Street Harassment