SOC 323 Sociology of Law

This course explores the sociological analysis of law, focused on the legal construction of social "groups," the moral regulation of social action, and the formal legitimization of state practices.  The course is divided into two sections.  The first half of the course examines theoretical approaches to the sociology of law drawing on the works of Max Weber, Niklas Luhmann, Jürgen Habermas, and Pierre Bourdieu, as well as perspectives rooted in Marxism, feminism, and critical race theory.  The second half of the course focuses on contemporary legal controversies in the United States, including racial disparities in criminal justice, undocumented immigration, the regulation of sexuality, and the criminalization of political dissent and protest.