Universität Wien

030645 KU Legal Sociology and Legal Anthropology (2026W)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 3 - Rechtswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
We 14.10. 14:30-16:30 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
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Details

max. 40 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 07.10. 14:30 - 16:30 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 21.10. 14:30 - 16:30 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 28.10. 14:30 - 16:30 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 04.11. 14:30 - 16:30 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 11.11. 14:30 - 16:30 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 18.11. 14:30 - 16:30 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 25.11. 14:30 - 16:30 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 02.12. 14:30 - 16:30 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course is dedicated to Legal Sociology and Legal Anthropology. The two disciplines draw theoretical paradigms and research methods from general sociology and anthropology, and adapt them to the study of law, in its connection with social, political, and cultural aspects. Some fundamental concepts and authors are going to be introduced. We´ll dedicate a specific lesson on empirical research in law, with concrete research examples. The second part of the course relies on “Thematic Sessions”: Social Control and Punishment; Dispute Resolution; Gender, Racism and Law.

1) Introduction. Definition and object.
2) Sociology of Law: The founders of the discipline
3) Legal Anthropology: The beginning of the discipline and the question of Eurocentrism
4) Norm, Legal System, legal and social change, institutions.
5) Legal Pluralism
6) Methodology: doing empirical research in Law
7) Methodology 2: qualitative research
8) Social Control and Punishment.
9) Dispute Resolution.
10) Gender, Racism and Law

Assessment and permitted materials

Assignments and grade:
1) Oral presentations
2) Participation in class debates.
3) A final written research plan in small groups. Use of AI tools is not permitted.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The grade is based on regular active participation, the presentation, and the written work.
The students are expected to attend at least 75% of the course and to be punctual

Examination topics

A reader will be provided via Moodle. Students will be expected to carefully read the literature provided via Moodle and discuss it in class. Students will hold a presentation as part of their course participation and will write a short research plan in small groups at the end of the course.

Reading list


A detailed reading list will be provided on Moodle. There will be 2 texts per session.

Provisional bibliography

Bourdieu, P., Terdman, R. (1987) “The Force of Law: Toward a Sociology of the Juridical Field.” Hastings Law Journal 38: 814.
Butler, J. (2004) Violence, Mourning, Politics, In: Precarious Life. The Powers of Mourning and Violence, Verso, pp. 19-50.1.
Conley, J., & O'Barr, W. (2002). Back to the Trobriands: The Enduring Influence of Malinowski's Crime and Custom in Savage Society. Law & Social Inquiry, 27(4), 847-874.
Cotterell, R. (1983) The Sociological Concept of Law, Journal of Law and Society, pp. 241-255
Engle Merry, S. (1988) Legal Pluralism, Law & Society Review, 1988, Vol. 22, No. 5, pp. 869-896
Engle Merry, S. (2012). Legal pluralism and legal culture: Mapping the terrain. In Legal Pluralism and Development: Scholars and Practitioners in Dialogue (pp. 66-82). Cambridge University Press
Falk Moore, F.( 1973) Law and Social Change: The Semi-Autonomous Social Field as an Appropriate Subject of Study, Law & Society Review, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Summer, 1973), pp. 719-746 Published by: Wiley on behalf of the Law and Society Association
Friedman, L. M. (1969) Legal Culture and Social Development, Law & Society Review , Aug.Vol. 4, No. 1 (Aug., 1969), pp. 29-44 Published by: Wiley on behalf of the Law and Society Association
Geertz, C. (1983) "From the Native's Point of View": On the Nature of Anthropological Understanding, In: Local Knowledge. Further Essays in Interpretative Anthropology. Basic Books.
Griffiths, J. (2017) What is sociology of law? (On law, rules, social control and sociology), The Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law, 49:2, 93-142.
Mezey N. (2001) Law as Culture, 13 Yale J.L. & Human. Pp. 35-67
Nelken, D. (1984). Law in action or living law? Back to the beginning in sociology of law. Legal Studies, 4(2), 157-174.
Nader, L. (1965) The Anthropological Study of Law, American Anthropologist , Dec., 1965, New Series, Vol. 67, No. 6, Part 2: The Ethnography of Law (Dec., 1965), pp. 3-32
Pirie, F. (2013) 'Order, Disputes, and Legal Pluralism', The Anthropology of Law, Clarendon Law Series.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 06.10.2026 12:05