BEXP 15A09 - Law & Society

Law is often imagined as a mass of written documents containing intricate and arcane language, which is usually manipulated by lawyers and judges. This course aims at expanding this imagery, by exploring the impact of legal practice, defined as a set of techniques deployed by legal professionals, in relation to our daily life. The course will first survey the historical underpinnings of legal practice. Then, students will be invited to reflect upon the impact of legal professionals and legal techniques in the organization of geographical spaces, group membership, behavior control and economic production. The course will also discuss the tensions between legal pluralism and the centralization of legal authority promoted by the nation-State, as well as introduce students to the use of legal technique as tools for resistance and change.

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