The Political Economy of Law: A Third World Reader

This selection of classical and contemporary readings examines the national and international operation of legal systems, focusing on the relationship of law to the economy, class, political conflict, the state, and international relations. These readings emphasize the transformations brought about by historical change and the contradictory dimensions of law in both advancing and blocking these transformations in accordance with the class interests expressed through legal forms. Throughout, the book draws on major theoretical writings as well as case studies of particular situations in Third World countries and includes editorial introductions uniting the various selections.