The Differing Realms of Law

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SOCIOLOGY OF LAW PROJECT

TOPIC: The Differing Realms of Law

S!"#ITTED TO : Prof Ta$an #ohan%&

S!"#ITTED "Y : Chirag Chha'ra

CLASS : Se(on) Year* "A* LL" +,ons-

SECTIO. : /"0

R OLL .O : 1234"ALL"325



AC6.OWLEDGE#E.TS

There are a number of people to whom I owe an immense amount of gratitude, for without

them, this project would never have seen the dawn of completion.

Firstly, I must thank Prof. Tapan Mohanty, for without his guidance; we never would have

had a basic understanding of the philosophies, ideologies and technicalities that surround

the workings of Sociology, in its nexus with law.

Secondly, the staff of the NLIU Library deserves gratitude for giving us access to their

unlimited resources and 24/7 Wi-Fi facilities.



CO.TE.TS

In%ro)7(%ionAn In%ro)7(%ion %o %he Differing Realms of Law '& Pa7l J "ohannan

An In%ro)7(%ion %o Pa7l J "ohannan

Legal An%hro$olog&

Defini%ion of Law

Do7'le Ins%i%7%ionalisa%ionCri%i(isms32

"i'liogra$h&33



I .TROD!CTIO.

An In%ro)7(%ion %o %he Differing Realms of Law '& Pa7l J "ohannan

In %he De(em'er of 389* an ar%i(le was $7'lishe) in %he $rolifi( ;o7rnal* American

Anthropologist * %i%le) /The Differing Realms of Law0 A $rolifi( s(holar* Pa7l J "ohannan*

wro%e %his ar%i(le This ar%i(le* or essa& has 'een (i%e) 139 %imes '& s(holars all aro7n) %he

worl)* in (on%e<%s of an%hro$ologi(al an) so(iologi(al s%7)ies* as well as anal&ses in

in%erna%ional law A% %he o7%se% of %his ar%i(le* "ohannan (learl& s%a%es %ha% i% has %hree main

aims:

3 To in=es%iga%e %he )efini%ion ;7ris$r7)en(e 7ses* an) %heir 7sef7lness from an

an%hro$ologi(al $oin% of =iew

1 To e<amine %he $henomenon referre) %o as /)o7'le ins%i%7%ionalisa%ion0 of norms an)

(7s%oms %ha% ma>e 7$ a legal s&s%em

4 The )iffi(7l%ies in (er%ain asso(ia%ions wi%h legal ins%i%7%ions an) $oli%i(al organisa%ions

an) in%eres% gro7$s an) lo''&is%s3

An In%ro)7(%ion %o Pa7l J "ohannan

Pa7l James "ohannan was an Ameri(an an%hro$ologis% >nown for his resear(h on %he Ti=

$eo$le of .igeria*1 s$heres of e<(hange4 an) )i=or(e in %he !ni%e) S%a%es?

,e a%%en)e) @7eens College a% O<for) as a Rho)es s(holar* re(ei=ing a "a(helor of

S(ien(e in 38?8 an) his PhD in 383* 'o%h in an%hro$olog& "ohannan remaine) in

Englan) an) was a le(%7rer in so(ial an%hro$olog& a% O<for) !ni=ersi%& 7n%il 389 when he

1 Pa7l J "ohannan* The Differing Realms of Law* 9B A#ERICA. A .T,ROPOLOGIST 44* 44

+389-

2 PA!L J "O,A..A. LA!RA "O,A..A.* TI ECO.O#Y +3895- PA!L J "O,A..A.*

J!STICE A.D J!DG#E.T A#O.GST T,E TIS +38B-

3 PA!L J "O,A..A.* ,OW C!LT!RE WOR6S +388-

4 PA!L J "O,A..A. JESSIE "ER.ARD* DIORCE A.D AFTER +38B2-



re%7rne) %o %he S%a%es %a>ing 7$ an assis%an% $rofessorshi$ in an%hro$olog& a% Prin(e%on

!ni=ersi%& In 388* "ohannan lef% Prin(e%on for a f7ll $rofessorshi$ a% .or%hwes%ern

!ni=ersi%& in E=ans%on* Illinois From 38B %o 3851 he %a7gh% a% %he !ni=ersi%& of

California* San%a "ar'ara In 3851 he 'e(ame )ean of %he so(ial s(ien(e an)

(omm7ni(a%ions )e$ar%men% a% %he !ni=ersi%& of So7%hern California ,e re%ire) from f7ll

%ime %ea(hing in 385B* '7% remaine) a% !SC as $rofessor emeri%7s 7n%il his )ea%h in 122B

,e has won %he Legion of #eri% in 388? an) %he ,ers>o=i% Prie in 3898

From 3891 %o 389? "ohannan was a )ire(%or on %he So(ial S(ien(e Resear(h Co7n(il ,e

was a )ire(%or of Ameri(an E%hnologi(al So(ie%& from 3894 %o 3899 "ohannan was

$resi)en% of %he Afri(an S%7)ies Asso(ia%ion in 389? In 38B83852* he was $resi)en% of %he

Ameri(an An%hro$ologi(al Asso(ia%ion

Legal An%hro$olog&

This is %he main gis% of %he wor> %he li>es of "ohannan 7n)er%a>es Legal an%hro$olog&*

also >nown as an%hro$olog& of laws* is a s7')is(i$line of an%hro$olog& whi(h s$e(ialies

in H%he (ross(7l%7ral s%7)& of so(ial or)ering This 'roa) )efini%ion of %he fiel) (a$%7res

%he wi)e arra& of resear(h )one '& legal an%hro$ologis%s %o)a& The fiel) of Legal

An%hro$olog& is a s(ien(e an) %h7s all %heories m7s% 'e 'ase) 7$on %he 'asis of em$iri(al

fa(%s ga%here) from a so(ie%&9 The 7es%ions %ha% Legal An%hro$ologis%s see> %o answer

(on(ern how is law $resen% in (7l%7resK ,ow )oes i% manifes%K ,ow ma& an%hro$ologis%s

(on%ri'7%e %o 7n)ers%an)ings of lawK The English law&er Sir ,enr& #aine is of%en (re)i%e)

wi%h fo7n)ing %he s%7)& of Legal An%hro$olog& %hro7gh his 'oo> Ancient Law*B an)

al%ho7gh his e=ol7%ionar& s%an(e has 'een wi)el& )is(re)i%e) wi%hin %he )is(i$line* his

5 CAROL J GREE.,O!SE* PRAYI.G FOR J!STICE: FAIT,* ORDER A.D CO##!.ITY I. A.

A#ERICA. TOW. 15 +3859-

6 L POSPISIL* T,E A .T,ROPOLOGY OF LAWS: A CO#PARATIE ST!DY +38B?-

7 ,E.RY S!##ER #AI.E* A .CIE.T LAWS +3593-



7es%ions raise) ha=e sha$e) %he s7'se7en% )is(o7rse of %he s%7)& ,owe=er* a %7rning

$oin% was $resen%e) in %he $7'li(a%ion of Crime and Custom in Savage Society '&

#alinows>i5 'ase) 7$on his %ime wi%h %he Tro'rian) Islan)ers Thro7gh em$hasiing %he

or)er $resen% in a(e$helo7s so(ie%ies* #alinows>i $ro$ose) %he (ross(7l%7ral e<amining of

law %hro7gh i%s es%a'lishe) f7n(%ions as o$$ose) %o a )is(re%e en%i%& Legal an%hro$olog&

remains a li=el& )is(i$line wi%h mo)ern an) re(en% a$$li(a%ions in(l7)ing iss7es s7(h as

h7man righ%s* legal $l7ralism* Islamo$ho'ia8 an) $oli%i(al 7$risings

DEFI.ITIO. OF LAW

8 "RO.ISLAW #ALI.OWS6I* CRI#E A.D C!STO# I. SAAGE SOCIETY +385-

9 JO,. R "OWE.* A .EW A .T,ROPOLOGY OF ISLA# +1231-



A% %he o7%se% of %he firs% se(%ion of his ar%i(le* whi(h s$ea>s of %he $ro'lems %he legal

lang7age $oses in %he fa(e of $rogress on an an%hro$ologi(al )is(o=er&* (learl& s%a%es %ha%

en)ea=o7ring %o )efine a (on(e$% li>e law is f7%ile* )es$i%e i% 'eing (en%ral %o all %hese

fiel)s

,owe=er* he )i) no% re;e(% %he $remise %ha% %here are (ommon %ren)s %ha% r7n %hro7gh

=ario7s (7rren%s ,e e<amine) %hose men%ione) '& S%one* %ha% law is:

A complex whole which always includes norms regulating human behaviour, that are social

norms The complex whole is orderly and the complex whole is orderly, and

characteristically a coercive order that is institutionali!ed with a degree of effectiveness

sufficient to maintain itself"#

The o%her $oin% of =iew %ha% he ga=e a grain of (onsi)era%ion was %ha% of ,LA ,ar%* %ha%

law has (ore* 'asi( iss7es:

3 ,ow is law rela%e) %o or)er 'a(>e) '& %hrea%sK

1 Wha% is %he rela%ion 'e%ween legal o'liga%ions an) moral o'liga%ionsK

4 Wha% are r7les* an) %o wha% e<%en% is law an affair of r7lesK33

,e %hen e<%ols %he i)eas $ro$o7n)e) '& ,erman 6an%orowi( who sai) %ha% law is (en%ral

%o all o';e(%s rela%e) %o %he so(ial s(ien(es* an) hen(e a ;7ris$r7)en%ial 7n)ers%an)ing of

mos% iss7es is essen%ial amongs% %hose %ha% $7rs7e s7(h in%eres%s31 ,e 'elie=e) %ha% an& sor%

of o'liga%ion a%%a(he) %o %he (on(e$% of law is a res7l% of so(ial an) moral infl7en(e %ha% is

(7l%7rall& )e%ermine) Law is %he one a=en7e =ia whi(h men ma& s%ri=e for ;7s%i(e* e7i%&

an) goo) (ons(ien(e* an) hen(e* i% m7s% 'e >e$% 7niform an) realis%i( an) )&nami(

10 R OY L STO.E* LOGICAL TRA.SLATIO.S I. T,E LAW +389-

11 ,LA ,ar%* $LA $art on Legal and %oral &bligation* B4 #IC,EGA. LAW R EIEW

??B* ??4?5 +38B?-

12 ,ER#A.. 6 A.TOROWIC* T,E DEFI.ITIO. OF LAW 3B +385-



DO!"LE I .STIT!TIO.ALISATIO.



In %he Differing Realms of Law* "ohannan se% o7% his own sol7%ion %o %he en)7ring $ro'lem

of )ifferen%ia%ing law from 'o%h norm an) (7s%om For him* Hnorm refers %o Ha r7le* more

or less o=er%* whi(h e<$resses /o7gh%0 as$e(%s of rela%ionshi$s 'e%ween h7man 'eings

C7s%om is %h7s a 'o)& of s7(h norms* in(l7)ing )e=ia%ions an) (om$romises wi%h norms*

%ha% is a(%7all& followe) in $ra(%i(e m7(h of %he %ime an) %ha% go=erns %he wa&s in whi(h

$eo$le m7s% 'eha=e if so(ial ins%i%7%ions are %o $erform %heir %as>s an) so(ie%& is %o en)7re

C7s%oms are %h7s norms %ha% ha=e 'een ins%i%7%ionalie) %o $erform %he re7ire) %as>s of a

s$e(ifi( so(ial )omain So(ie%& (anno% long en)7re wi%h a n7m'er of in)e$en)en%l&

o$era%ing ins%i%7%ions There m7s% e<is% some higher me(hanism %ha% (an Hin%erfere in %he

malf7n(%ioningMf7n(%ioning of %he ins%i%7%ion in or)er %o )isengage %he %ro7'le (ase This

res$onsi'ili%& lies on %he sho7l)ers of a na%ion0s legal ins%i%7%ions

The& are (om$rise) of laws %ha% are )is%ing7ishe) from mere (7s%oms '& 'eing 'o%h grea%er

an) more $re(ise Laws are (7s%oms %ha% ha=e 'een remo=e) from %heir s$e(ifi( (on%e<%

%hro7gh a $ro(ess of reins%i%7%ionalisa%ion* mar>ing a %ransi%ion from a $7rel& so(ial %o a

legal $oin% of =iew34 If %his en%ire ne<7s was a $&rami)* firs% ins%i%7%ionalia%ion is a norm*

whereas %he se(on) is a (7s%om* while laws %rans(en) %hese $ara)igms These (ons%r7(%s a(%

as reg7la%or& for(es for all ins%i%7%ions '& ele=a%ion in%o %he legal ins%i%7%ion

Thro7gh %his $ro(ess of )o7'le ins%i%7%ionalia%ion* sele(% norms 'e(ome laws* now (harge)

%o reg7la%e a(%i=i%& among all %he so(ial ins%i%7%ions an) no% merel& %heir own !nli>e

(7s%oms* whi(h go=ern s$e(ifi( )omains* laws ha=e no 7ni7e )omain* ins%ea) go=erning

all o%hers A((or)ing %o %his ar%i(le* law is no% one %&$e of norm of so(ial reg7la%ion* '7% is

%he Hmas%er norm hierar(hi(all& s7$erior %o all o%hers whose onl& wor> is %o reg7la%e %he

(7s%omar& ins%i%7%ions If law is a so(ial ne(essi%&* i% is onl& 'e(a7se of %he im$erfe(% a'ili%&

of (7s%oms %o go=ern %heir )omains an) no% 'e(a7se law has an irre)7(i'le )omain of i%s

13 .OR"ERT R O!LA.D* LEGAL A .T,ROPOLOGY 422 +Philli$e G Planel %rans* 388?-



own +s7(h as in(7l(a%ion of norma%i=e s%an)ar)s- The form an) (on%en% of an in)igeno7s

legal s&s%em will =ar& less 'e(a7se of %he )eman)s of law i%self* %han 'e(a7se of %he

(7s%omar& ins%i%7%ions whose malf7n(%ions i% is in%en)e) %o resol=e Perha$s %he grea%es%

s%reng%h of %his %heor& is %ha% i% (a$%7res %he of%en lawli>e as$e(% of (7s%om "& reg7la%ing

%heir own ins%i%7%ions* (7s%oms f7n(%ion lo(all& =er& m7(h as )o glo'all& a(%i=e laws The

a$$earan(e (an lea) %he (as7al o'ser=er %o (onf7se law an) (7s%om* as in)ee) man&*

in(l7)ing an%hro$ologis%s* ha=e )one

Cri%i(isms

The wea>nesses of "ohannan0s $&rami)al s(heme arg7a'l& o7%weigh an& 'enefi%s i%

(onfers S%anle& Diamon) (hallenges whe%her )o7'le ins%i%7%ionalia%ion 7ni7el&

(hara(%eries legal r7les3? We (an also o'ser=e %ha% if (7s%om an) law ha=e %he rela%ionshi$

he )es(ri'es* %hen %he %erm H(7s%omar& law 'e(omes meaningless* 'el&ing i%s (ommon

7se3 #ore serio7sl&* %he %heor& of )o7'le ins%i%7%ionalia%ion %rea%s as %he sole f7n(%ion of

law )is$7%e resol7%ion* %he s%e$$ing in an) resol=ing %he Hmalf7n(%ioning of ins%i%7%ions

Ameri(an legal an%hro$olog& )oes wor> 7n)er ;7s% %ha% e7a%ion Those who assign law

a))i%ional %as>s 'e&on) %hese* a $oin% of some am'ig7i%& among man& (on%em$orar& legal

an%hro$ologis%s* will fin) 7nsa%isfa(%or& a %heor& %ha% )oes no% merel& highligh% %his

res$onsi'ili%& '7% ele=a%es i% )efini%ionall& in%o %he onl& legi%ima%e wor> %ha% law $erforms

"I"LIOGRAP,Y

14 STA.LEY DIA#O.D* I . SEARC, OF A PRI#ITIE: A CRITI@!E OF CIILATIO. +38B?-

15 WER.ER F #E.S6I* CO#PARATIE LAW I. A GLO"AL CO.TENT: T,E LEGAL SYSTE#S

OF ASIA A.D AFRICA 82 +1229-



3 "ohannan* P +389- The Differing Realms of Law* Ameri(an An%hro$ologis%*

.or%hwes%ern !ni=ersi%& Press

1 Dono=an* James # +1225- Legal An%hro$olog&: An In%ro)7(%ion Lon)on: Rowan

Al%amira P7'lishers4 6an%orowi(* , +123?- The Defini%ion of Law +A, Cam$'ell e)- Cam'ri)ge:

Cam'ri)ge !ni=ersi%& Press

The Differing Realms of Law

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