Australian Law in Context: Social, Political, and Global Perspectives

Law is a human activity. This engaging book examines the contexts underpinning Australian law and goes beyond its language and institutions to enquire into how legal norms operate in practice. It aims to demystify the law, whilst critically analysing its value and creatively exploring how it might be reformed to serve justice more fully in a complex world.

The authors address four major themes: the liberal foundations of Australian law, the hurdles generally encountered by law in its endeavour to lead to positive social change, the impact of social divisions such as class, gender or race on the application of the law, including its resulting failures for the marginalised, and the influences of globalisation on the shape and operation of Australian law.

The critical approach of the authors presents theories of law from different viewpoints, inviting readers to determine their own responses to its operation across a range of issues. The accessible, coherent and structured analysis makes the book an ideal introduction to the socio-legal foundations and operation of Australian law for students, lawyers and non-legal audiences.