2 December 2015

Time: 3:30 - 6:30pm
Venue: Room 313, Law Building, School of Law, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS

The Centre for Law and Society in a Global Context (CLSGC) and the Department of Law at Queen Mary University of London co-host this new book forum for Dr Katayoun Baghai’s (Visiting Fellow, Queen Mary University of London) new book, Social Systems Theory and Judicial Review - Taking Jurisprudence Seriously, published by Ashgate. 

The forum will begin with an introduction to the book by Dr Baghai, and will be followed by short commentary.

Commentators

• Professor Richard Nobles (QMUL) (Chair)
• Professor Roger Cotterrell (QMUL)
• Professor Chris Thornhill (Manchester)
• Professor John Paterson (Aberdeen)

About the book

Social Systems Theory and Judicial Review - Taking Jurisprudence Seriously demonstrates the empirical gains and integrative potentials of social systems theory for the sociology of law. Against a backdrop of classical and contemporary sociological debates about law and society, it observes judicial review as an instrument for the self-steering of a functionally differentiated legal system. This allows close investigation of the US Supreme Court’s jurisprudence of rights, both in legal terms and in relation to structural transformations of modern society. The result is a thought-provoking account of conceptual and doctrinal developments concerning racial discrimination, race-based affirmative action, freedom of religion, and prohibition of its establishment, detailing the Court’s response to boundary tensions between functionally differentiated social systems. Preliminary examination of the European Court of Human Rights’ privacy jurisprudence suggests the pertinence of the analytic framework to other rights and jurisdictions. This contribution is particularly timely in the context of increasing appeals to fundamental rights around the world and the growing role of national and international high courts in determining their concrete meanings.

Directions

For directions to the venue, please refer to the map. 

Contact

For more information on this event, please email lawevents@qmul.ac.uk.

Photography, video and audio recording

Please note that Department of Law events may be photographed or video and audio recorded. These materials will be used for internal and external promotional purposes only by Queen Mary University of London. If you object to appearing in the photographs, please let our photographer know on the day. Alternatively you can email lawevents@qmul.ac.uk in advance of the event that you are attending.