SOC293H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Factory Acts, Small Claims Court, Squeegee
Lecture 2
Why is it illegal to squeegee in Toronto?
Why is there a disparity in the incarceration rates for Blacks compared to Whites?
And does this have any implications for democracy?
Does regulating the number of hours in the workday mean that the state is looking out for its workers?
Marx and the sociology of law
Why should we read Marx?
- Understanding of the world
- Go to a criminal court (who are defendants, judges, lawyers – how do they look, etc)
- Go to a civil court, go to a small claims court and see patterns
Defendants tend to be less affluent, minorities
Those in power (judges, lawyers) represent those who have more power in our society
Marxist theory
Marx viewed society as primarily an uneasy relationship between two groups with incompatible economic
interest – bourgeoisie (society’s ruling class) and proletariat
- Bourgeoisie exploits proletariat for economic gains
Base – shapes the superstructure
-Relationship of production – who is in power and who isn’t in making money (who owns what and who
works for whom)
-Means of production – things you need to produce (machines, factories, land, raw materials) which are all
owned by bourgeoisie
Base shapes the superstruct6ure (other things that creates our society)
Superstructure – maintains and legitimates the base, allows everything continue and make sense
- Education, family, religion, mass media, politics, law (all vary depending on what base looks like)
- Family structure that allows you to go to work (babies to school, etc)
Marxist approaches to law
How law looks, functions, interests it serves depends on legitimating the base
- In non-capitalist society, law will look different
How does capital affect law
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Go to a criminal court (who are defendants, judges, lawyers how do they look, etc) Go to a civil court, go to a small claims court and see patterns. Defendants tend to be less affluent, minorities. Those in power (judges, lawyers) represent those who have more power in our society. Marx viewed society as primarily an uneasy relationship between two groups with incompatible economic interest bourgeoisie (society"s ruling class) and proletariat. Relationship of production who is in power and who isn"t in making money (who owns what and who works for whom) Means of production things you need to produce (machines, factories, land, raw materials) which are all owned by bourgeoisie. Base shapes the superstruct6ure (other things that creates our society) Superstructure maintains and legitimates the base, allows everything continue and make sense. Education, family, religion, mass media, politics, law (all vary depending on what base looks like)
