Introduction to Sociology of Law, Advanced Level

In this course, you gain in-depth knowledge of sociology of law while learning how theoretical traditions can be employed in analysing contemporary social issues.

The course starts with a presentation of the foundations of the sociology of law, discussing the relationship between different forms of regulation. From there, we explore law as a practice and social system, before discussing issues of legality, legitimacy, and social justice. The final part examines the relationship between law and social change, focusing on gender, migration, cyberspace, criminal policy, minority rights, and citizenship.

The teaching consists of lectures, exercises, and seminars. The assessment of each module is based on written assignments and active participation in seminars, including oral presentations.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

Over three modules, you learn classical and modern socio-legal theories, as well as research specialisations and perspectives within the sociology of law. We cover how regulations and control mechanisms work, as well as the law's possibilities and limitations. Societal repercussions at different levels are also included.

Module 1: The Foundations of Sociology of Law (5 credits) 
The first module introduces sociology of law as an interdisciplinary subject focusing on different types of formal and informal norms and official and unofficial control mechanisms within society. It describes the development of sociology of law as a branch of general sociology and as an empirical specialisation within jurisprudence and legal studies.

Module 2: Systems Theory, Theory of Communicative Action and the Critical Schools (5 credits) 
During Module 2, you study six theoretical approaches to the study of law in modern society. These are based on Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative action, Niklas Luhmann's system theory, Pierre Bourdieu's theory of the field and forms of capital, Michel Foucault and Hanna Arendt.

Module 3, Law, Postmodernism and Globalisation (5 credits) 
In the final module, we discuss how theories of postmodernism and globalisation influence the description and study of law, the legal system, and the legal profession. We also examine their impact on sociology of law research.

After the course, you will be able to analyse how the law interacts with societal factors and shapes the development of individuals, groups, and organisations at the national, international, and global levels. You will have gained insight into socio-legal theories and how to formulate issues of sociology of law.

Additionally, you will have the ability to present socio-legal issues in speech and writing and argue how they can be analysed using different theories.

Prerequisites

A Bachelor's degree including 90 ECTS credits in the sociology of law or other relevant disciplines such as sociology, criminology, law, political science, social work, or the equivalent. English course 6/B (advanced proficiency).

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100 %.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 33,750
First payment: SEK 33,750

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.