Fundamental Principles of the Sociology of Law

The innovative and revolutionary scholarship of the eminent Austrian legal theorist and professor of Roman law, Eugen Ehrlich (1862-1922) is of a very high caliber. His work has not only held its place well in view of what legal theory, especially sociological legal theory, has to offer, but is also still a powerful challenge to positions in legal theory that are no longer defensible. The sociology of law has followed in a direct line of succession from Ehrlich’s observations and ideas as a new and special discipline linking jurisprudence with sociology. Because Ehrlich’s texts in English have long been unavailable, many of his ideas, while commonplace in sociological research and theory, are not commonly attributed to his work. The new introduction by Klaus Ziegert addresses some of the reasons Ehrlich has been overlooked in the literature. In so doing, Siegert to sketches the context in which Ehrlich worked and discusses his major tenets. Among the topics covered in Ziegert’s substantial introduction to this volume is the current relevance of Ehrlich’s work. He also addresses the key issues in socio-legal theory and methodology, which were touched upon by Ehrlich and are still very much at the cutting edge of socio-legal research and a sociological theory of law. This book will be of keen interest to students of sociological theory and law.