GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

Every aspect of our lives is directly or indirectly regulated by various laws. In this course, students are introduced to the study of law and society from a multidisciplinary and comparative perspective. We will discuss why people (and corporations and other institutions) obey or do not obey laws, and how they act when resolving disputes. We will also study in-depth the ways in which law shapes society, how society influences law, and effectively bringing about social changes.

Upon completion of this course, students should have a better understanding of the role of law in society, and its impact (or lack of it) on individuals as well as society as a whole. Students will learn to analyze and apply abstract principles, and organize new information and their thoughts. Through group discussion and student presentations, students will develop their skills of communication and cooperation, as well as experience the importance of peer-learning.

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

Throughout the semester, we will discuss specific topics related to law and social change, and the impact of law on society. Students will be expected to read materials concerning the basic concepts and ideas in sociology of law, attend and participate in classroom discussions, and complete assignments based on the readings. Students will also be required to make presentations, and engage actively in class discussion. Students also demonstrate their acquisition and mastery of the course content upon completion of the assessments. For assignments, discussions, and exams feedback is given in the form of comments which is available on the classroom online dashboard; during the lectures, students will also receive feedback to further clarify and develop conversations that arise from the lectures.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：オンライン/online

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Orientation

General introduction to the topics, objectives, and goals for the semester.

2[オンライン/online]：Learning the Basics

What is law? Sources and types of law. Functions of law. What is sociology of law concerned with?

3[オンライン/online]：Why Do (or Don’t) We Obey the Law?

Incentive, Punishments and their effects; Evolution of Law

4[オンライン/online]：Theoretical Perspectives

Functionalism; Marxist/Conflict; Critical Legal Studies

5[オンライン/online]：Lawmaking

What is the relationship between law and society? What is the relationship between social structure, culture, and law?

6[オンライン/online]：Midsemester Exam

This proctored exam consists of a short
essay, multiple choice, and fill-in the blank questions.

7[オンライン/online]：Sanctions and Social Control

Is law a tool for domination? How and why the law is mobilized

8[オンライン/online]：Conflict Resolution and Litigation

The process through which legal disputes emerge? Court and Social Change

9[オンライン/online]：Law and Social Change

How does law impact society? Should social change precede law reform?

10[オンライン/online]：Topics on Law and Social Change

Law as the cause of social change. Can we solve social ills by changing the law?

11[オンライン/online]：Topics on Law and Social Change

Can legal change effectively bring about social change?

12[オンライン/online]：Presentations

Student presentation(s) and class discussion. Topic to be decided based on the interests of the students.

13[オンライン/online]：Presentations and Wrap-up

Student presentation(s) and class discussion. Topic to be decided based on the interests of the students. We will also use this time to address any questions.

14[オンライン/online]：Final Exam and Wrap-up

The proctored exam will consist of multiple choice, fill-in the blank, and short essay type questions.

Students are required to do the reading assignments before coming to class. In addition, reviewing class materials after every class will be a great benefit to your learning. Students should also allocate sufficient time to preparing for their assessments and presentations. Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

Class materials will be provided by the instructor and distributed in class. Readings will be taken from the following book(which you are not required to purchase): Vago, Steven and Barkan, Steven E. (2018). Law and Society (11th edition). New York, NY: Routledge.

Readings: These materials are posted on the classroom dashboard; any changes to this list will be announced in class and online.
Encyclopedia of Law & Society: American and Global Perspectives – Sociology of Law, Sage Publication, Inc., pages 2-6; The Common Place of Law – Transforming Matters of Concern into the Objects of Everyday Life, Susan S. Silbey and Ayn Cavicchi, pages 556-565; Why People Obey the Law, Tom R. Tyler, Yale University Press, Pages 3-4, 6-7, 19-27; Law in Classical Social Theory - Durkheim and Marx; Contemporary Social Theory and Law - Critical Legal Theory; Lawmaking - Making Hate a Crime - Social Movement to Law Enforcement; Law and Social Change - Social Control; Law and Social Change - Discrimination, the Law - and Blacks in America

Attendance and Preparation for class: 10%
Attendance will be taken each day. A preparation sheet is online - select a topic that interests you and sign-up for when you will lead the discussion for that topic of the day.
Participation: 25 %
Individual and group reflections during class, short written responses where you are asked to define key concepts and/or provide commentaries on videos and article excerpts on the discussion forum, feedback on the presentations
Midsemester Exam: 20 %
This exam covers all the materials discussed up until that point of the semester/midsemester assessment. A review of critical materials will be discussed prior to the exam.
Presentation: 20 %
This is a real-world current event analysis presentation. Students will work with a team to select and present on a topic of interest. The goal is to expand on theories and research discussed throughout the semester to take a position on an issue and discuss the impact on society.
What you need to submit:
Submit PowerPoint slides (10-15 slides maximum) that summarizes/current event, the class material that relates to the topic/current event, and any new research you discovered. The PowerPoint presentation should have a reference page with citations/links of those references (e.g. journal articles, newspaper articles, video links). Your presentations will be recorded and upload online, and will receive feedback from the instructor and students.
Final exam: 25 %
This exam covers all the materials discussed throughout the semester. A review of critical materials will be discussed prior to the exam.

In order to diversify opportunities for learning, a variety of approaches for the different learning styles are integrated throughout the semester. Feedback from the students will also be incorporated into the lessons and assignments.

Internet access (smartphone, tablet, computer).

The schedule and format for this course is subject to adjustments (given the number of students who will eventually enroll in this class, students' interests, and/or university policies, etc.).

None.