This account of the anthropology of law is remarkable in its command of the Anglo-American and Continental literatures in this field; and it is timely in addressing contemporary issues. Two central projects are carried through in succesive parts of the book. In the first, the author outlines the history of the "anthropology of law", drawing on the intellectual context of legal development. In the second, Professor Rouland examines the legal ideas, institutions and processes of small-scale non-Western societies, moving finally towards an anthropology of modern law. The author has published widely within the field of legal anthropology.

Introduction by: Simon Roberts
Translated by: Philippe Planel