LAW, SOCIETY AND POLITICS IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

COURSE OVERVIEW

Professor Helen E. Hartnell, Juris Doctor

FUBiS 2015 Winter Term I

Course Description
This course explores theoretical and historical perspectives on the intersection of law, society
and politics, and aims to foster discussion of contemporary issues among students from
different cultures and disciplines. After an introduction to comparative law and legal culture, we
read some classical social theorists (Durkheim and Marx), and consider their relevance to
contemporary debates about morality, obedience, and conflict. Next, we investigate the role and
operation of law in totalitarian settings such as Nazi and Communist Germany, and consider the
difficulties such legacies pose for fostering the rule of law in post-totalitarian societies. In this
context, we also examine the relationship between law and the market. Finally, we debate the
appropriate limits on the exercise of rights, such as freedom of speech.

Overall, the course aims to develop skills at using theory and history to inform debates on
contemporary challenges, such as multiculturalism, (illegal) downloading, squatting, economic
development, and historical justice. In addition to gaining substantive expertise in various socio-
and politico-legal fields, students develop communicative competence through participatory
exercises, and intercultural competence through discussion with other students.

Student Profile
This course is designed for all students having an interest in social sciences in particular,
history, sociology or political science or in law. It is designed as an undergraduate class, but
the variety of students taking this course typically ranges from first-year students to post-
graduate students. This experiential diversity provides unique opportunities for students to
learn from one another.

Prerequisites
No prior knowledge of law or of social science is required; the only prerequisite is an open mind.

Course Requirements
Students are expected to attend each class; read the literature assigned for each class; and
participate in class discussions and field trips. Each student will complete at least one class
participation exercise (such as preparing a written protocol that analyzes assigned readings, or
leading a discussion); make a short in-class presentation on a topic related to one of the daily
themes; and take a written final examination.

Grading
The grade for this course will be based on: class participation (40%); an oral in-class
presentation of 10 minutes (30%); and a written final exam (30%).

Literature
Readings for the course are contained in a reader that will be provided at orientation.
Additional optional readings, along with a wide variety of readings that can be used for student
presentations, are available on the course Blackboard site. Some of the readings particularly
the older ones are more difficult than others; if you find a particular reading very difficult, do
your best to get the authors main points, then focus on the other assigned readings for the day.
LAW, SOCIETY & POLITICS Schedule of Class Meetings
IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE FUBiS 2015 Winter Term I
Professor Helen E. Hartnell, Juris Doctor January 2015

READINGS FOR FIRST TWO CLASSES

January 5 (M): TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES:

LAW, CUSTOM, AND PLURALISM

What is law, and how does it differ from custom?

What is meant by legal culture?
What tensions exist between culture and law?

Session 1 (9: 00 - 1 0: 30) Law, Custom, Folkways

Session 2 (1 1 : 00 - 1 2: 30)

Read:

William Graham Sumner, Folkways: a study of the sociological importance

of usages, manners, customs, mores, and morals (1907) (excerpt).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Brian Tamanaha, Law, St. Johns University Legal Studies Research Paper
Series # 08-0095 (Jan. 2008). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Lawrence M. Friedman, Legal Culture ant the Welfare State, in G. Teubner,

Dilemmas of Law in the Welfare State (1985), pp. 13-23 (excerpt). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Session 3 (1 4: 00 - 1 5: 30) Legal Pluralism

Read:

T.W. Bennett, Ubuntu: An African Equity, 14(4) PER/PELJ (Potchefstroomse

Elektroniese Regsblad/Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal) (2011) (excerpt). . . . . . 25

Peter Schneider, The New Berlin Wall, New York Times (4 Dec. 2005). . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Martha Neil, Ohio Dowry Ruling is Appealed; Important Muslim Marriage Issue,
ABA JOURNAL (1 Nov. 2007). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Intolerance and the Law in Oklahoma, NEW YORK TIMES (28 Oct. 2010). . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Melissa Eddy, In Germany, Ruling Over Circumcision Sows Anxiety and Confusion,
New York Times (13 July 2012). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Canada's polygamy laws upheld by B.C. Supreme Court, CBC News (23 Nov. 2011). . . . 40
LAW, SOCIETY & POLITICS Schedule of Class Meetings
IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE FUBiS 2015 Winter Term I
Professor Helen E. Hartnell, Juris Doctor January 2015

January 7 (W): THINKING ABOUT LEGAL SYSTEMS: APPROACHES TO

COMPARATIVE LAW AND LEGAL CULTURE

How can legal systems be compared?

What are the most significant similarities and differences between legal systems?
What are the functions of courts?
What is the role of lawyers?

Session 1 (9: 00 - 1 0: 30) Comparing Legal Systems: Culture, Institutions, Actors

Session 2 (1 1 : 00 - 1 2: 30)
Session 3 (1 4: 00 - 1 5: 30)

Read:

J.H. Barton, J.L. Gibbs, V.H. Li & J.H. Merryman, Law in Radically Different
Cultures (St. Paul, MN: West, 1983), pp. 1-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

The Weberian Perspective, in Javier Trevio (ed.), The Sociology of Law:

Classical and Contemporary Perspectives (New York: St. Martins Press, 1996),
pp. 174-83.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

William L.F. Felstiner, Richard L. Abel & Austin Sarat , The Emergence and
Transformation of Disputes: Naming, Blaming, Claiming . . ., 15 (3/4) Law &
Society Review (1980 - 1981), pp. 631-654 (excerpt). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Adam Liptak, Foreign Courts Wary of U.S. Punitive Damages, New York Times
(26 March 2008). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Choe, Sang-Hun, Help Wanted: Busybodies With Cameras, New York Times
(28 September 2011). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

185 Lawyer Jokes, http://www.stromer.com/jokes/185jokes.html (excerpt). . . . . . . . 67

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