Legal Pluralism in the Arab World

"Legal pluralism" denotes both the multiple social fields which produce partially interacting norms, and the state's recognition of the many sources of law which constitute its legislation. It advocates a break from traditional legal theory in favour of describing the law from a more sociological and anthropological perspective. The theory of legal pluralism proves offers an avenue for the examination of socio-legal activities. The result of a seminar held in Cairo in December 1996, with contributions by sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists, legal theoreticians and practising lawyers, this collection of essays represents a detailed examination of the phenomenon of legal pluralism in the Arab world. It attempts to define the notion of legal pluralism from sociological, anthropological and theoretical perspectives, and highlights its connection with particular Arab societies and countries.