About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

2 Austl. J.L. & Soc'y 90 (1984-1895)
The Sociology of Law: An Introduction

handle is hein.journals/aujls2 and id is 296 raw text is: 90 Australian Journal of Law & SocietyV THE SOCIOLOGY OF LAW: AN INTRODUCTION by Roger Cotterrell London: Butterworths, 1984 409 + xii pages $40 hard ISBN 0 406 01068 4 In an earlier number of this journal it was argued that a process of internationalization has been occurring within the sociology of law during the last decade or so. ' Roger Cot- terrell's introduction to the sociology of law is yet another fine illustration of this trend. In recent years, we have seen the publication of a number of other similar introductory texts, also with broad aspirations.2 Cotterrell's offering is certainly one of the best of these. This is not to say that this book does not have its faults, it is however probably amongst the best of the recent introductions to the sociology of law that this reviewer has read. It is theoretically sensitive, restrained in its assertions and well balanced in its appraisal of research and theorizing in this field. Although the author modestly pro- claims that his 'text does not set out to propound its own new and original legal theory' (p vii), his discussion is nevertheless theoretically illuminating in its effort to re- evaluate the accomplishments of others who have sought to theorize within the tradition of the sociological approach to law and legal studies. In doing this, Cotterrell ranges across a century or more of legal sociological analysis and theory. Much of this analysis is inevitably thin although it never verges on the trivial. Cotterrell's text seeks 'to suggest elements of a reasonably consistent analytical framework' (p vii). Unlike some other writers of recent introductory sociology of law texts,3 it is often difficult to grasp which particular framework Cotterrell is himself attached to as he is, if anything, quite eclectic in his approach and quite rarely does he feel it necessary to proffer his own opinions or to clarify his own position. This is an altogether too polite, or restrained approach especially if one is to'advance the litera- ture', as Cotterrell hopes to do (p viii). There is something to be said for a more pro- vocative argument, but the absence of this is not necessarily a major fault in an introductory text Cotterrell's book is as has been suggested above, quite wide-ranging. The first two chapters explore fairly broad, if conventional concerns. These are, firstly, the social basis of law, with particular reference to Sumner and Ehrlich; and secondly, the Vol 2 No. 2, 1985

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most