The oldest social science? : configurations of law and modernity

This stimulating book challenges the general assumption that the post-war period is hallmarked by the triumph of the rule of law. It is distinctive in that its focus is to develop an adequate understanding of the true role actually being played by law, rather than to explore arguments of what the law should be doing. The author's approach involves focusing on adjudication as a social practice and as a set of governmental techniques. From this vantage point, he explores how the relationship between law, government and society has changed in the course of history in significant ways. In so doing, he addresses the central concerns of scholars, students, and the genaral public in relation to the future of law.