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UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
SCHOOL OF LAW
MASTER OF LAWS PROGRAMME
COURSE CODE: GPR 601
JURISPRUDENCE AND LEGAL THEORY
SEMINAR 8 PRESENTATION
TOPIC: SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO LAW
COURSE INSTRUCTORS: DR. WINNIE KAMAU
DR. EDWIN ABUYA
DATE: Tuesday 18thJanuary, 2010
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GROUP 8 MEMBERS
Name Registration
number
Signature
1. Bryan M. Khaemba
2. Davis Mawira N.
3. Derrick Khaemba Kuto4. Joash Ratemo
5. Dennis Bosire
6. Cosmas Ngeso
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STRUCTURE
1. ntro!u"tion
2. #oun!ation o$ So"io%ogi"a% &''roa"(es To )a*
3. +e,e%o'ment o$ So"io%ogi"a% &''roa"(es To )a*
4. So"io%ogi"a% &''roa"(es To )a*- Using So"ia% S"ien"e +ata n
u!i"ia% Matters
/. So"io%og0 o$ )a*
. Re$eren"es an! Bi%iogra'(0.
SOCO)OGC&) &PPRO&CES TO )&
1. NTRO+UCTON
ocio!ogica! a""roach to !aw tries to integrate or merge the i#eas an#
conce"ts o$ !aw an# socio!ogy together an# to acknow!e#ge the $act that
!aw is a socia! rea!ity an# that it interre!ates with our socia! or every#ay
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!i$e. &he common theme that runs through the socio!ogica! a""roach is
that !aw is an em"irica! "henomenon an# its nature can be un#erstoo#
on!y when it is viewe# in terms o$ its re!ationshi" to society.
&hese a""roaches to !aw #e"arts shar"!y $rom both the Natura! 'aw an#
(ostivism theories. Natura! 'aw an# (ostivism theories are viewe# as
theories o$ !aw) that is) they are "reoccu"ie# with the *uestion o$ +what is
!aw,. -t has however been argue# that a"art $rom the in*uiry o$ what is
!aw) uris"ru#ence a!so #ea!s with the $o!!owing *uestions/
ow #oes !aw evo!ve1
2hat is the $unction o$ !aw in society1
ow #oes !aw change1
ow is !aw trans$orme# $rom generation to the ne3t1
ocio!ogica! a""roaches to !aw attem"ts to #ea! with the above *uestions)
that is) it is a theory about !aw. -t is "art o$ com"arative uris"ru#ence.
2. #OUN+&TON O# SOCO)OGC&) &PPRO&CES TO )&
&he main $eature o$ the socio!ogica! a""roach to !aw is that !aw is
"erceive# to be a socia! "henomenon. 2hat this means is that !aw is
!inke# with the every#ay !i$e o$ "eo"!e in a society an# that !aw an#
socia! !i$e are mutua!!y in$!uencing an# interacting with one another. -t
$o!!ows there$ore that changes in the society wi!! have an im"act to the
!aw an# vice versa. &o take an e3am"!e) in 4merica #uring the !ate
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780,s) southern state !egis!atures "asse# a !aw re*uiring se"aration o$
b!acks an# whites $rom "ub!ic trans"ortation. &his segregation "rinci"!e
was e3ten#e# to schoo!s) "arks an# even restrooms. 4 "erson might view
this as #iscriminatory but one has to bear in min# that most o$ the
southern states in 4merica $avore# s!avery #uring the 4merican Civi! 2ar
976:765;.
&he society 9the whites; at that time which was sti!! remin#$u! o$ the civi!
war sti!! "erceive# the b!acks to be in$erior an# une*ua!) an# this min#set
in$!uence# the
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in$!uence# by the interest o$ "ersons or grou" so #e$ining them. 4 c!ear
e3am"!e o$ this is when 4#o!"h it!er assume# the tit!e o$ !ea#er)
chance!!or an# the chie$ army in ?ermany. 4#o!"h it!er ma#e !aws that
were o$ his interest an# to so!i#i$y his "ower) one o$ the !aws that he
ma#e was to make the Na@i (arty membershi" man#atory $or a!! higher
civi! servants an# bureaucrats) abo!ishe# a!! other "arties that was in
e3istence in ?ermany an# ma#e anti:Jewish !aw. 4s we can see the !aws
ma#e by 4#o!"h were o$ his interest an# the Na@i "arty in genera! on!y. -t
can be $air to say that those with "ower 9"o!itica!) economic) etc; have the
in$!uence in #etermining the rea!ity o$ !aw an# how it is sha"e#.
owever the tra#itiona! a""roach to !aw seeks to un#er!ine that !aws are
neutra!) $air) e*ua! an# $ree $rom bias. -t is the creation o$ "eo"!e with
wis#om. 'aws are neutra! because u#ges e3ercise !ogic in their #ecision)
but this conce"tion is $!awe# because a "erson are !ike!y i$ not a!ways
in$!uence# by $actors such as economic interest) racia! backgroun#)
gen#er) e#ucationa! backgroun# when #eci#ing a matter. &he tra#itiona!
a""roach views !aws as Aa !ogica! an# interna!!y coherent system in
which correct !ega! #ecisions can be #e#uce# by $orma! reasoning. -$
that is so) then how #o we e3"!ain such matters as the segregation !aw
that was once "ractice# in the
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crimes 4ct) e3ua! $$ences 4ct) etc.
Bio#iversity 4ct was en$orce# as a resu!t o$ #eve!o"ments in the
Biotechno!ogy. Deve!o"ments in the $ie!# o$ me#icine have a!so given
rise to matters such as ma!"ractice an# the stu#y o$ me#ica! !aw. -t is
c!ear then that other $orms o$ #isci"!ine interact with !aw such as the
Me#ia !aw. ne has to bear in min# that the rea!ity an# $acts that !aw
#ea!s with are not conc!usive but are o"en to ana!ysis) it means that the
matters that !aw regu!ates are never $i3e# but vary #e"en#ing on each
given situation.'aw in essence shou!# not be !ooke# at in a restricte# manner con$ine#
on!y in its technica!ity or as an iso!ate# "henomenon but rather to
acknow!e#ge that it is interre!ate# with other as"ects o$ socia! !i$e
9cu!ture) be!ie$) environment) "erce"tion) etc.; an# changes that a$$ects a
society such as mo#erni@ation.
By !ooking at !aw in a wi#er "ers"ective one can seek to un#erstan# more
c!ear!y the ro!e o$ !aw in achieving socia! or#er) socia! contro! an# socia!
change. 2hether one is a #e"uty "ub!ic "rosecutor) u#ge) #ra$tsmen or
even a minister one shou!# a!ways be remin#$u! o$ this
&o this en#) socio!ogica! a""roaches to !aw regar# !aw as being nothing
more than a !iving re"resentation o$ socia! norms e3isting in societies. -t
ho!#s that !aw wi!! thus a#a"t to changes in society. 4ccor#ing to ir
Ere#erick (o!!ock Athere is no way by which mo#ern !aw can esca"e $rom
the scienti$ic an# arti$icia! character im"ose# on it by the #eman# o$
mo#ern societies $or $u!!) e*ua! an# e3act ustice.% 4ccor#ing to him
there$ore societa! #eman#s sha"es the character o$ !aw.
%?eorge C. Christie/ Juris"ru#ence) &e3ts an# Rea#ings on the (hi!oso"hy o$ 'aw9==5; (.7%7) 2est (ub!ishingCo.
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ocio!ogica! a""roaches to !aw is thus concerne# with/
ow societa! changes wi!! "ro#uce changes in !aw.
ow changes in !aw in turn generate changes in society.
&he #ynamics o$ !aw rather than with meta"hysics o$ !aw.
ow socia! grou"s #ea! with !aw to govern their interests.
ow "ersons use or manu"i!ate !aw to achieve certain kin#s o$ en#s.
ow !aw is use# as an institution o$ "o!itica! we!$are.
ocio!ogica! uris"ru#ence thus a""roaches !aw $rom within the !aw itse!$
rather than outsi#e the !aw !ike "ostivists. -t e3amines the interaction o$
!aw with other as"ects o$ society) such as the e$$ect o$ !ega! institutions)
#octrines) an# "ractices on other socia! "henomena an# vice versa.-t is
a!so viewe# as an a""roach to a#u#ication that views !aw as a means to
"romote socia! we!$are) re*uiring !egis!atures an# u#ges who wi!! make
!aw in !ight o$ society,s constant!y evo!ving nee#s.
3. +E5E)OPMENT O# SOCO)OGC&) &PPRO&CES TO
)&
?enera!!y) socio!ogica! a""roaches to !aw) ust !ike 'ega! Rea!ism) was a
reaction to the so ca!!e# mechanical jurisprudence, that is) the
uris"ru#ence o$ $orma! a""!ication o$ strict !ega! conce"ts an# ru!es in
iso!ation o$ other e3terna! $actors.
htt"FFwww.wiki"e#ia.org.
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ocio!ogica! a""roaches to !aw #eve!o"e# as a reection o$ a
Auris"ru#ence o$ conce"ts) the view o$ !aw as a c!ose# !ega! or#er.
Eurther) the "ro"onents were reecting the be!ie$ o$ natura!ism that an
u!timate theory o$ va!ues can be $oun#) they saw rea!ity as socia!!y
constructe# with no natura! gui#e to the so!ution o$ many con$!icts.
4!though socio!ogica! uris"ru#ence has roots in uro"ean !ega! thought
"articu!ar!y in the writings o$ Ru#o!$ Gon -nhering) ugen hr!ich an#
erman Kantorwit@) it is) in 4merica) most!y #e$ine# by Roscoe (oun#)
Dean o$ avar# 'aw choo! $rom =6:=6) an# Benamin Car#o@o)u#ge o$ the New Hork court.
-n or#er to un#erstan# the historica! #eve!o"ment o$ socio!ogica!
a""roaches to !aw) this "a"er wi!! attem"t to ana!yse the writings o$ the
above an# other great urists) socio!ogits) u#ges an# !awyers.
R. 5on(ering
e sees !aw as an instrument $or serving the nee#s o$ human society. e
argues that the success or otherwise o$ a !ega! "rocess was to be measure#
by the #egree to which it achieve# a "ro"er ba!ance between com"eting
socia! an# in#ivi#ua! interests.
Eugen E(r%i"(
is concern was to e3"oun# the socia! basis o$ !aw. 4ccor#ing to him)
!aw is #erive# $rom socia! $acts an# #e"en#s not on state authority but on
socia! com"u!sion.
e urgues that the rea! source o$ !aw is not statutes or re"orte# cases but
the activities o$ society itse!$. -t $o!!ows there$ore that accor#ing to
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hr!ich) !aw changes with the changes in societa! activities an# that at any
given time) !aw shou!# re$!ect the socia! norms o$ the society.
e $urther states there e3ist the +!iving !aw, un#er!ying the $orma! ru!es o$
the !ega! system an# it is the task o$ the u#ge an# urist to integrate these
two ty"es o$ !aw.
hr!ich there$ore minimi@es the "!ace o$ !egis!ation as a $ormative
$actorm in !aw) $or instnce) commercia! !aw sim"!y $ormi!ises "ractices o$
the commercia! wor!#.
-n a#u#icating cases) he argues) u#ges shou!# give "riority to the !iving
!aw because ustice arises $rom the society.
e ca!!s u"on !awyers an# u#ges to un#erstan# the socia! $oun#ations o$
!ega! ru!es an# thereby #eve!o" them.
Criti"ism
is argument negects a criterion by which !ega! norms cou!# be
#istinguishe# $rom other socia! norms. e merges !aw with re!igion)
ethica! custom) mora!ity. Decorum) tact) $ashion an# eti*uette>.
e un#u!y be!itt!e# the "rimary ro!e o$ the !egis!ature in creating new
!aw.
Eurther) he $ai!s to a""reciate the sign$icant in$!uence that state !aw has
on sha"ing an# #eve!o"ment o$ !iving !aw.
Emi%e +ur6(eim
4ccor#ing to him) !aw was a measuring ro# o$ any society. 'aw
re"ro#uces the "rinci"a! $orms os socia! so!i#arity. e argue# that !aw is
>Ee!i3) Cohen) The Legal Conscience,9=60; (.78.
=
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an in#icator o$ the mo#e o$ integration o$ a society. he states that in the
course o$ history) !aw un#ergoes a trans$ormation $rom re"ressive to
restitutive !aw. 4ccor#ing!y) in sim"!e societies) the !aw in e3istence is
"ena!9re"ressive; an# as the society moves $orwar# an# becomes
com"!e3) the !aw in e3istence is restitutive. e argues that restitutive !aw
o"erates in societies in which there is a high #egree o$ in#ivi#ua!
variation an# em"hasis on "ersona! rights an# res"onsibi!ities.
Ros"oe Poun!e is regar#e# as the $ather o$ socio!ogica! uris"ru#ence. -n #eve!o"ing
this theory) he was great!y in$!uence# by socia! scientists working in the
city o$ Chicago whi!e teaching at Northwestern
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4ccor#ing to (oun#) socio!ogica! uris"ru#ence is concerne# with a
survey o$ socia! interest to which !aw shou!# give e$$ect) but not to
engage in !ogica! reconstruction o$ the meaning e3"resse# by !ega! te3ts.
&hese socia! interests inc!u#e/
a; ?enera! security in sa$ety) hea!th) "eace an# "ub!ic or#er)
ac*uisitions) an# transactionsI
b; ecurity o$ socia! institutions:$ami!y) re!igious) "o!itica! an#
economicI
c; ?enera! mora!sI#; Conservation o$ socia! resourcesI
e; ?enera! "rogress:economica!!y) "o!itica!!y) an# cu!tura!!yI
$; ocia! interest in in#ivi#ua! !i$e that each in#ivi#ua! be ab!e to !ive a
!i$e accor#ing to the stan#ar#s o$ the society.
e argue# that socio!ogica! uris"ru#ence is concerne# with socia!
engineering. e there$ore sees !aw as a too! $or socia! engineering.
e argue# that !aw cou!# not ust be un#erstoo# mere!y as ru!es or norms)
but rather as something #eve!o"e# an# inter"rete# an# in continuous $!u3.
4ccor#ing to (oun#) !aw is not mere!y a mo#e! o$ ru!es but a #octrina!
system in movement.
(oun# views !aw as $orm o$ socia! contro! in enab!ing ust c!aims an#
#esires to be satis$ie#. e argues thus that !aw shou!# be #eve!o"e# in
re!ation to e3isting socia! nee#s.
(oun# was "articu!ar!y concerne# with the e$$ects o$ !aw u"on society.
n this) he argues that !aw is an or#ering o$ con#uct so as to make the
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goo#s o$ e3istence an# the means o$ satsis$ying c!aims go roun# as $ar as
"ossib!e with the !east $riction an# waste. e regar#s these c!aims as
interests.
e a!so argues that societa! va!ues shou!# be $actors which weigh u#icia!
#ecisions. &hey are basic assum"tions u"on societa! or#ering rests.
(oun# a!so sees !aw as a#usting an# reconci!ing con$!icting interests. e
states that !aw is an instrument which contro!s interests accor#ing to the
re*uirements o$ the socia! or#er.
e a!so argue# that !egis!ation ought to move !aw $orwar# in the !ight o$
mo#ern socia! nee#s. e taske# !awyers to be know!e#geab!e o$ sources
o$ community va!ues an# nee#s because they have a #uty o$ !ega!
#eve!o"ment.
4ccor#ing to (oun#) !aw is a !ega! e3"ression o$ the !i$e o$ the
community. 4ccor#ing!y) he argue#) !aw shou!# be use# as an instrument
$or rea!ising the #estiny o$ a given society an# a continous e3"ression o$
the changing "atterns o$ community !i$e.
Criti"im
Di$$icu!ty may be e3"erience# in #istinguishing the actua! #esires o$ the
"ub!ic or "articu!ar grou"s.
&here are interests not on!y in the sense o$ what "eo"!e want but in the
sense o$ whatmay be goo# $or them regar#!ess o$ their actua! #esires.
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&he (oun#,s society is homogenous) static an# cohesive) one with share#
va!ues an# tra#itions an# a common cognition o$ rea!ity.
7uinne0argue# that !aw is the too! o$ the ru!ing c!ass. -t consists o$ the
interests o$ on!y s"eci$ic segments o$ the "eo"!e an# #o not re"resent a
com"romise o$ #iverse interests but rather su""orts some at the e3"ense
o$ others6.
ometimes c!ass interests) "ro$essiona! organisations an# interest grou"s
in$!uence "assage o$ !egis!ation rather than a consesus o$ #i$$erentinterests o$ the "eo"!e.
>.SOCO)OGC&) &PPRO&CES TO )&- USNG SOC&)
SCENCE +&T& N U+C&) M&TTERS.
4s #iscusse# herein above) the "ur"ose o$ !aw accor#ing to ocio!ogica!
a""roach is to give e$$ects to the #eman#s an# c!aims ma#e by the
society. &here$ore) be$ore "assing any !aw) the !egis!ature nee#s to be
in$orme# by stu#ies carrie# in the society to come u" with a !aw that
caters $or the interests o$ the society.
&he courts o$ !aw) being the institution man#ate# to inter"ret the !aw an#
give e$$ect to the same there$ore nee#s to be in the know o$ the tren#s in
the society so as come u" with obective u#gments.
-n the com"!e3ities o$ the a#vance# in#ustria! an# science base#
civi!i@ation) it has become increasing!y #i$$icu!t to trans$orm high !eve!
"o!icy into socia! "ractice. -nevitab!y those charge# with the
im"!ementation o$ !aw have turne# to scienti$ic e3"erts in socia!
66 uinney Crime and Justice 9=6=; (.%5
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organi@ation an# "henomena an# to e3"erts on the way the !aw actua!!y
o"erates in society $or gui#ance in im"!ementation.
&here$ore) in arguing cases) !awyers have re!ie# on a metho# o$ "!ea#ing
in which in "!ace o$ or in a##ition to statutory an# case materia!)
substantia! amount o$ what is consi#ere# scienti$ic #ata about our society)
either genera! or "re"are# $or the "articu!ar case) are "resente# to court
common!y re$erre# to as Bran!eis Brie$s9
&he Bran#eis Brie$s was "ro"agate# in the case o$ Muller Vs Oregen
7
where e3tracts $rom the ninety re"orts o$ committees) bureaus o$ statistics
to the e$$ect that !ong hours o$ 'abour are #angerous $or women "rimari!y
because o$ their s"ecia! "hysica! organi@ation. -n their ru!ing) the court
he!# that the re"orts usti$y s"ecia! !egis!ation restricting or *ua!i$ying the
con#ition un#er which she shou!# be "ermitte# to toi!.
ocio!ogica! uris"ru#ence has been #irect!y an# o"en!y concerne# with
making #ecision making more e$$icient by incor"orating some o$ the
insights o$ the systematic stu#y o$ the society.
ocio!ogica! uris"ru#ence has come to re$er to *uite #i$$erent branches
o$ en#eavor. Eirst!y) the use o$ socio!ogica! techni*ues o$ in*uiry to
e3amine the institutions o$ the !aw themse!ves. econ#!y) the use o$
contem"orary socio!ogica! techni*ues by the institutions o$ the !aw as a
way o$ making their own e$$orts more e$$ective in changing or stabi!i@ing
#i$$erent sectors o$ socia! or#er.
owever) the court is the above cite# case he!# that it cannot sim"!y an#
uncritica!!y acce"t a!! the o"inions o$ socio!ogists since on many
89=07;%07 %) >=:%.
>
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im"ortant "oints) socia! societies are not agree# among themse!ves. &his
then "ut the u#iciary in a tricky "osition on how to eva!uate the #ata)
how to #etermine the cre#ibi!ity o$ that #ata an# how to #ea! with the
a""arent contra#ictions between societies.
4 use o$ socio!ogica! #ata which "reci"itate# one o$ the maor revo!utions
in the %0thCentury 4merica was the u"reme Court,s a""arent re!iance
on a variety o$ socia! science conc!usions in ro!n Vs oard o"
#ducation$.
&hese were cases $rom Kansas) outh Caro!ina) Girginia an# De!aware
whereo$ the minors o$ Negro sought the ai# o$ the courts in obtaining
a#mission to "ub!ic schoo!s o$ their community on a non segregation
basis. &hey ha# been #enie# a#mission to the "ub!ic schoo!s atten#e# by
white chi!#ren un#er !aws re*uiring or "ermitting segregation accor#ing
to race. &he segregation was a!!ege# to #e"rive the "!ainti$$,s o$ e*ua!
"rotection o$ the !aws un#er the >thamen#ment.
; 7
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the North) the b!acks ha# some e#ucation though in ru#imentary system.
-n reaching the #ecision) the court ha# this to sayI Ain a""roaching this
"rob!em) we cannot turn the c!ock back to =67 when the amen#ment
was a#o"te#. 2e must consi#er "ub!ic e#ucation in the !ight o$ its $u!!
#eve!o"ment an# its "resent "!ace in 4merica !i$e throughout the nation.
n!y in this way can it be #etermine# i$ segregation in "ub!ic schoo!s
#e"rive the "!ainti$$s o$ the e*ua! "rotection o$ the !aws.
&he u#ge summari@e# the im"ortance o$ e#ucation in the society. -tre!ie# on the #ata that ha# been "resente# be$ore it on the im"ortance
e#ucation as stu#ie# by socia! scientists. -t thus he!# that in the $ie!# o$
"ub!ic e#ucation) the #octrine o$ se"arate but e*ua! ha# no "!ace an#
there$ore over ru!e# the #ecision o$ the !ower court. &he u"reme Court
"reci"itate# a revo!ution in 4merican socia! organi@ation. -t "ur"orte# to
reach its #ecision by re!ying on the socia! science #ata invoke# be$ore it.
&he ru!ing generate# intense resistance among scho!ars many o$ whom
conten#e# that either the #ata on which the court "ur"orte# to re!y were
unsoun# or that in genera!) the re!iance on socia! science #ata ha# no
"!ace in !aw.
ne o$ such scho!ars was 2o!$ who ana!y@e# socia! sciences an# the
courts. e re!ie# in a##ition to the Brown,s caseI the Detroit choo!s
Case %radley &s' Milli(an)*
T(e $a"ts o$ t(e "ase are t(at in 4"ri! o$ =8) the Nationa! 4ssociation
$or the 4#vancement o$ Co!oure# (eo"!e 9N44C(; brought a !aw suit
be$ore a $e#era! #istrict court charging #e ure segregation within the
=(1971)338 f Supp 582 E.D Mich.
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e3"!anations i!!ustrate the "rob!ems $ace# by courts in cases where
scienti$ic materia!s are o$$ere#. &here were some e3"!anations which
re*uire# a $air amount o$ know!e#ge o$ *uantitive techni*ues which some
u#ges #i# not have.
e argue# that a court is "oor c!assroom. -t is the on!y "!ace where we
can #eci#e i$ a man is gui!ty o$ mur#er but it is not a goo# "!ace to stu#y
the causes o$ homici#e. &he source o$ some o$ these "rob!ems is in the
very nature o$ the a#versary system. &he a#versaria! system in the
"resentation o$ evi#ence a!ways ten# to o$$en# the most basic notions o$scienti$ic in*uiry. Eor e3am"!e) i$ a #e$ence !awyer is su##en!y sur"rise#
by a "iece o$ evi#ence.
/. TE SOCO)OG: O# )&.
Eor much o$ the twentieth century) the socio!ogy o$ !aw was ec!i"se# by
socio!ogica! uris"ru#ence. Erom the =60,s the term ocio!ogica!
uris"ru#ence was use# !ess $re*uent!y an# what come to be known as
socia! !ega! stu#ies took its "!ace. 4#vocates o$ socia! !ega! stu#ies
em"hasi@e the im"ortance o$I:
9i; (!acing !aw in its socia! conte3t.
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&hough having short comings) it ha# consi#erab!e im"act on the !aw) on
!ega! e#ucation an# on !aw "ub!ishing. -t ke"t $orcus greater attention on
conce"ts !ike #iscretion) institutions such as tribuna!) an# #i$$erent
techni*ues o$ #ecision making an# con$!ict reso!ution such as a!ternative
#is"ute reso!ution.
ocio !ega! stu#ies were not without short comings. &hey were !acking in
any theoretica! un#er"inning. &he !aw an# the !ega! system were treate#
as #iscrete entities) as un"rob!ematic) an# as occu"ying a centra!
hegemonic "osition. &here was no attem"t to re!ate the !ega! system to
the wi#er socia! or#er o$ the state. -n or#er to a##ress these short
comings) re$orms were suggeste# that wou!# enab!e !ega! systems to
o"erate more e$$icient!y an# e$$ective!y. &he em"hasis was more on the
behaviour o$ institutions rather than on trying to un#erstan# !ega!
#octrine.
So"io%og0 o$ )a* !e$ine!.
ocio!ogy o$ !aw as e3"!aine# by Cam"be!! re$ers to a situation where
$orcus is no !onger on the !ega! system) known an# acce"te#) but on
un#erstan#ing the nature o$ socia! or#er through a stu#y o$ !aw. &he goa!
is not "rimari!y to im"rove the !ega! system) but rather to construct a
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theoretica! un#erstan#ing o$ that !ega! system in terms o$ the wi#er socia!
structure.
Much o$ the $orcus in contem"orary writing is on this un#erstan#ing.
-m"ortant *uestions that emerges are) +shou!# !ega! #e$initions be
trans$orme# into socio!ogica! categories or shou!# socio!ogica! insights
be trans$orme# into !ega! conce"ts1, -$ the !aw has a !imite# socio!ogica!
un#erstan#ing o$ the wor!#) #oes socio!ogy have anything to o$$er the
urist to enab!e him better a""reciate it cho!ars have res"on#e#
#i$$erent!y to these *uestions. "inions o$ the $o!!owing scho!ars are
worth noting.
NE);EN$ee!s that there are #angers. e $ee!s that the intro#uction o$
#i$$erent sty!es o$ reasoning can have i!! a$$ects $or !ega! "ractice by
misun#erstan#ing an# thus threatening the integrity o$ !ega! "rocess or the
va!ues they embo#y. e $ee!s that the two shou!# be stu#ie# se"arate!y.
COTTERE)on the other han# $ee!s that the ocio!ogy o$ !aw is a tran:
#isci"!inary enter"rise an# as"iration to broa#en un#erstan#ing o$ !aw as
a socia! "henomenon. e em"hasi@es the centra!ity o$ the socio!ogy o$
!aw $or !ega! e#ucation an# !ega! "racticeI the metho#o!ogy o$
socio!ogica! un#erstan#ing o$ the !ega! i#eas is the #e!iberate e3tension in
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care$u!!y s"eci$ie# #irections o$ the #iverse ways in which !ega!
"artici"ants themse!ves think about the socia! wor!# in !ega! terms.
ocio!ogy) Cottere! argues) o$$ers insight into !ega! thinking an# can
trans$orm !ega! i#eas by inter"reting them. e uses the e3am"!e o$ a
"rivate "ur"ose trusts. e is aware that this cou!# !ea# to socio!ogy
recreating !aw in its own image. n the contrary) he argues that when
seen his way) it ceases to a""ear as the innovation o$ a com"eting
aca#emic #isci"!ine with the aim o$ co!oni@ing !aw. -t is rather a
necessary means o$ broa#ening !ega! un#erstan#ing the systematic an#
em"irica! un#erstan#ing o$ a certain as"ect o$ socia! !i$e which is
recogni@e# as !ega!.
&he cha!!enge to this thinking is weather socio!ogy can c!imb out o$ its
own skin an# get insi#e the !aw to un#erstan# an# e3"!ain the !aws truth.
B&N&;&R argues that !aw secures its #omination an# authority through
normative c!osure. e #enies the commona!ity o$ #iscourses o$ socio!ogy
o$ !aw. e argues that the sheer institutiona! strength o$ the !aw ham"ers
e3cess to em"irica! materia!. e *uestions the re!evance o$ socio!ogica!
insights into !ega! reasoning an# raises #oubt on the a#e*uacy o$
socio!ogy to "ro#uce a know!e#ge which trans!ates it to a rea!ity.
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-n res"onse to the arguments ma#e by Banakar) Ne%6enargues that i$ we
are to bring socio!ogy o$ !aw u" against its !imits its #e"en#ence on
socio!ogy must be recogni@e#. 4n# it becomes necessary to e3amine
more care$u!!y how its re$!e3ivity an# that o$ !aw re!ate.
Cottere% on the other han# be!ieves that the !aw can "ro$it $rom
socio!ogica!!y ins"ire# reso!utions "articu!ar!y where !ega! #octrines are
ri$t by con$!icting "rece#ent. &his is true an# i$ wou!# be $oo!ish $or the
!awyer o$ to#ay to ignore socia! insights. But the intro#uction o$ such
insights a!so has the "otentia! to #istort or at !east change !ega! "ractices
rather than sim"!y he!" them to sort out se!$ in#uce# mu##!es.
-n s"ite o$ the strong "osition taken by Cottere! it is acce"te# among !ega!
socio!ogists that whatever socia! science can #o $or !aw) it cannot o$$er
obectivist groun#ing $or !ega! "o!icy.
+ON&)+ B)&C;
e "re#icts the #eve!o"ment o$ what he ca!!s ocio!ogica! !aw when
!awyers re$!e3ive!y interna!i@e the conc!usion that ocio!ogy is the best
gui#e to !ega! outcomes. 4ccor#ing to him) the socio!ogy o$ !aw entai!s
the a#o"tion o$ an observes "ers"ective. e argues that o$$icia! versions
o$ the intentions an# "ur"oses o$ "articu!ar statutes are not a grante#
automatic res"ect but are instea# subect to critica! scrutiny. &hat "eo"!e
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shou!# not ust acce"t written statutes without critica!!y scrutini@ing them.
o too are the conventiona! usti$ication o$ court "roce#ures an# the !ega!
re"resentation o$ c!ients.
&he socio!ogy o$ !aw even suggests new "ossibi!ities o$ mani"u!ating
!ega! systems #e!iberate!y in or#er to bring about #esire# resu!ts
techni*ues o$ socia! engineering !ike!y to become high!y controversia! as
we!! as high!y e$$ective. -t a!so "uts into "ers"ective many o$ the most
time honoure# nations o$ !awyers an# !ega! scho!ars. &hus #iscretion is
shown to be not ran#om an# ca"ricious but rather high!y regu!ar an#
"atterne# 9constraine# by the #ictates o$ socia! !aw; B!acks socio!ogy o$
!aw suggests a!so a #i$$erent un#erstan#ing o$ #iscrimination. e argues
that #iscrimination is not e3ce"tiona! but ubi*uitous) an# is not !imite# to
the e$$ect o$ socia! c!ass or race. -t is an as"ect o$ natura! behaviour o$
!aw as natura! as $!ying at bir#s or swimming o$ $ish.
Rea%isti" So"ia%
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socia! "henomenon that must be un#erstoo#) ana!y@e# an# #iscusse#
which cou!# not begin or be carrie# $air without conce"tua! ana!ysis. -t is
rather recognition that #e$erra! "henomena $a!! un#er the conce"t o$ !aw.
'aw is a conce"t conventiona!!y a""!ie# to a variety o$ mu!ti$acete#)
mu!ti$unctiona! "henomena natura! !aw) internationa! !aw) "rimitive !aw)
re!igious !aw) customary !aw) state !aw) $o!k !aw) "eo"!es !aw an#
in#igenous.
e insists that there is no centra! case o$ !aw. e cites the e3am"!e o$
internationa! !aw which has its own integrity an# has been $unctioning as
a $orm o$ !aw $or at !east two centuries but which remains un#er
tra#itiona! conce"tua! ana!ysis as a bor#er!ine $orm o$ !aw. e is
concerne# that the centra! case a""roach to the conce"t o$ !aw $its an#
was the "ro#uct o$ the ascen#ancy o$ state !aw that accom"anie# the rise
o$ the state. is a!ternative conce"tua!i@ation o$ !aw is) he be!ieves better
ab!e to account $or the "ro!i$eration o$ #i$$erent kin#s o$ !aw than the
tra#itiona! monoty"ica!view o$ the conce"t o$ !aw. e o$$ers the
$o!!owing as ways o$ eva!uating wether one conce"t o$ !aw is better than
another.
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; &he conce"t must be coherent or ana!ytica!!y soun# in the sense
that it shou!# not contain interna! contra#ictions or have ga"s in
crucia! s"ots.
%; &he conce"t must be consistent with) or $it or be a#e*uate to the
rea!ity) "henomenon) or i#ea! it "ur"orts to "resent #escribe or
#e$ine.
; &he conce"t must have a use va!ue in the sense that it wi!! enhance
our un#erstan#ing or he!" us achieve our obectives.
&he ne3t *uestion that &amanaha a##resses is can a conce"tua!
uris"ru#ence have autonomy 9or at !east; re!ative autonomy $rom
em"irica! rea!ity. &o him) it cannot. &hus the overri#ing obective o$ his
socio !ega! theory is to bring into !ega! theory an in$usion o$ insights
$rom the socia! scienti$ic stu#y o$ !aw. ocio !ega! theory is a "ractice o$
theori@ing about !aw that incor"orates as"ects o$ both 9conce"tua! an#
socio !ega!; a""roaches to !ega! "henomena. ocio!ogica! in*uiries into
the "ractice that !ega! theories "ur"ort to ana!y@e an# e3"!ain 9an#
#escribe an# "rescribe; are essentia! to the enter"rise o$ !ega! theory that
wants to be goo# as it #oes. 'ega! theory however can neither be
subsume# within nor #ictate# by !ega! socio!ogy.
-n summary &amanaha,s rea!istic socio !ega! theory "rovi#es im"ortant
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"oints that are worth a""reciating. Most signi$icant!y) that !aw is a socia!
"ractice amenab!e to socia! scienti$ic stu#yI an# that !ega! theory an#
socio !ega! theory have a !ot to !earn $rom each other. -t has !ong been
recogni@e# that socio!ogica! thinking about !aw wou!# be consi#erab!y
ham"ere#) without the insights o$ ana!ytica! uris"ru#ence. But ana!ytica!
uris"ru#ence can !ook to socio!ogy as we!! an# as much to gain "rovi#e#
it uses the #ata a""ro"riate!y. &hus it is im"ortant $or those stu#ying the
conce"t o$ !aw to know why "eo"!e obey 9or #on,t obey; the !awI why
"eo"!e use e3tra !ega! norms an# "roce#ures to reso!ve #is"utes) how
other societies #ea! with #is"utes.
BB)OGR&P: &N+ RE#ERENCES
; Ereeman M.D.4. '!oy#,s -ntro#uction to Juris"ru#ence 8th e#)
'on#on) weet L Ma3we!!.
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%; Roger Cotterre!!) &he (o!itics o$ Juri"ru#ence) 4 critica! -ntro#uction
to 'ega! (hi!oso"hy) Butherworths) 'on#on an# e#inburgh) =7=.
; Christie) ?.C.) L Martin) (. .) Juris"ru#ence/ &e3t an# Rea#ings on
the (hi!oso"hy o$ 'aw) %n##.) t. (au!) Minn) 2est (ub!ishing Co.)
==5.
>; Reisman) M.2) L chreiber) M. 4) Juris"ru#ence/