Published by De Gruyter Oldenbourg

Volume 23 Issue 2

Issue of Zeitschrift für Rechtssoziologie

Contents
Journal Overview

May 14, 2016

Forum

May 14, 2016

Einleitung: Transnationales Recht

Mathias Albert, Dirk Lehmkuhl

Page range: 159-164

Abstract

The introduction seeks to embed the following three articles into the general debate on a transnationaüsation of law, the latter understood as a reaction to the diminishing structuring power of territorial boundaries for political, economic and societal interaction. Although this is a debate in the early stages in sociology, legal studies and political science alike, there are nonetheless a number of common points of interest which make it worthwhile to explore interdisciplinary approaches to the genesis and the function of law in societal contexts beyond the framework described in terms of the nation-state. Part of these points of interest are the questions of the development of a „domestic“ law of world society, but also on the pluralisation and fragmentation of behavior-regulating functions within and by transnational-functional subsystems, which contrast the image of a hierarchy and unity of law with an image of an heterarchic plurality of legal orders.

May 14, 2016

Verrechtlichung der Weltpolitik oder Politisierung des Rechts?

Die Debatte über transnationales Recht in den Internationalen Beziehungen

Christian Brütsch

Page range: 165-184

Abstract

The Debate on the „legalisation“ of world politics challenges the view that, within the state, law defines the limits of political agency, whereas beyond the state, the politics of interest dominate the role of law. This essay analyses the conceptual coordinates through which the current debate evolved and maps the differences between legalisation and state rights. It argues that the discourse on legalisation contributes to a consolidation of existing structures of power. It also explores the conditions under which a „law beyond the state“ can be thought of in terms of a new form law, rather than as part of an institutional framework regulating particular issue-areas.

May 14, 2016

Reflexive Transnational Law

The Privatisation of Civil Law and the Civilisation of Private Law

Graff-Peter Calliess

Page range: 185-216

Abstract

The author examines the emergence of a transnational private law in alternative dispute resolution bodies and private norm formulating agencies from a reflexive law perspective. After introducing the concept of reflexive law he applies the idea of law as a communicative system to the ongoing debate on the existence of a New Law Merchant or lex mercatoria. He then discusses some features of international commercial arbitration (e.g. the lack of transparency) which hinder self-reference (autopoiesis) and thus the production of legal certainty in lex mercatoria as an autonomous legal system. He then contrasts these findings with the Domain Name Dispute Resolution System, which as opposed to Lex Mercatoria was rationally planned and highly formally organised by WIPO and ICANN, and which is allowing for self-reference and thus is designed as an autopoietic legal system, albeit with a very limited scope, i.e. the interference of abusive domain name registrations with trademarks (cybersquatting). From the comparison of both examples the author derives some preliminary ideas regarding a theory of reflexive transnational law, suggesting that the established general trend of privatisation of civil law need to be accompanied by a civilisation of private law, i.e. the constitutionalization of transnational private regimes by embedding them into a procedural constitution of freedom.

May 14, 2016

Globalverfassung: Los desaparecidos und das Paradox der Menschenrechte

Andreas Fischer-Lescano

Page range: 217-250

Abstract

The article discusses the transnational legal processes in the field of human rights law und focusses on scandalizing and political processes, in which transnational legal norms are formed. The conclusion is that also on the global level an institution exists which performs as a structural coupling between the political and judicial systems: a (Global) Constitution. In a different way, however, than in drafts of the world constitution as a „constitution of a global minimal state“ or the world constitution as a „constitution of a world federation“ such a functional analysis limits itself to observe which functions the actual legal programs and structures obtain. Consequently, art. 38 of the Statutes of the ICJ, the fundamental human rights falling under the principles of ius cogens and erga omnes, the prohibition of the use of force and intervention, can be perceived as a functional aquivalent to a constitution, without deriving legitimization claims from the existence of a functional Global Constitution.

Abhandlungen

May 14, 2016

Universalismus versus Globalisierung: Der Bruch in der Geschichte des westlichen Rechtsdenkens

André-Jean Arnaud

Page range: 251-276

Abstract

Can we trace back the universality claims of contemporary globalisation to the universalism of juridical and political thought of modernity (16. to 19. Century)? Even if neo-liberal ideology and modern capitalism are nothing but a return of an old order, the ruptures between autonomous, coherent and specific systems cannot be overlooked. While modem law has been shaped for a world of merchants, the contemporary global regulation obeys the law of the market. And the social movements that criticise the ideology of the free market, do not take recourse to the modern universalism. The globalisation critics are part of the process that they criticise. The problem is whether “civil society” can be rehabilitated, whether it can take on a new meaning. It is beyond representation that the social contract tailored for the modern epoch needs to be criticised because real participation has no place in it.

May 14, 2016

Rechtspluralismus und globale soziale Bewegungen

Volkmar Gessner

Page range: 277-306

Abstract

The coexistence of plural normative orders within nation-states is a traditional research agenda of legal anthropology. Meanwhile new plural orders have been and art constantly generated above the level of the nation-state thus multiplying dramatically the number of norms, rules and standards competing and potentially conflicting with each other. The article (1) describes shortly the legal order above the state level, (2) develops with the category of „hybrid“ norms a concept for autonomously created but state supported norms with a global reach, (3) gives some examples of a potentially large number of alternative normative structures and then (4) deals more in detail with the contribution of social movements in regulating global activities. One more obvious contribution consists of lobbying for better global law-making, another activity is the production of alternative normative structures and a third activity may be characterized as a new form of civil society legislation above the nation-state.

Rezension

May 14, 2016

Stefan Machura/Stefan Ulbrich (Hrsg.), Recht im Film

Armin Höland

Page range: 307-308

Ankündigung

May 14, 2016

Call-for-Paper für eine Tagung für Nachwuchswissenschaftler/innen der sozialwissenschaftlichen Rechtsforschung

Page range: 309-312

May 14, 2016

Autoren des Heftes

Page range: 313-316

About this journal

About the Journal

Established in 1980, the Zeitschrift für Rechtssoziologie – The German Journal of Law and Society offers a forum for the academic analysis of law in its societal context and on the relationship between law and society. The notion of ‘society’ is interpreted broadly. The journal publishes contributions from all disciplines as long as the relationship between law and society can be identified as a core theme. Papers with a theoretical focus and empirically-based analyses are equally welcome. We also publish essays that do not follow the typical format of a journal article as long as the arguments and reasoning are of an academic standard. The journal also features a book review section which discusses recent sociology of law texts published in Germany and other countries. Submissions may be written in German or English.

Only original contributions will be published. However, contributions to the journal may be republished elsewhere provided that the place of first publication is cited.

An overview over the development of the journal can be found in: Cottier Michelle, Die Zeitschrift für Rechtssoziologie: seit bald 40 Jahren Kristallisationspunkt und Kommunikationsarena der deutschsprachigen Rechtssoziologie, in: Christian Boulanger (Hrsg.) "Rechtssoziologisch publizieren" – Dokumentation eines Rundtischgespräches, 26.03.2019, https://barblog.hypotheses.org/cottier-zeitschrift-fuer-rechtssoziologie.

Peer review

Contributions will be subject to a double blind peer review process, where necessary more than once, involving at least two external referees before the editors take a decision on publication.

Publication frequency

The journal is published twice a year and is included in the abstracting services of Sociological Abstracts and SOLIS – Sozialwissenschaftliches Literaturinformationssystem (a German social science database).

Volume 23 Issue 2

Issue of Zeitschrift für Rechtssoziologie

Inhalt Heft 1 - Heft 2

Inhalt

Corrigendum

Einleitung: Transnationales Recht

Abstract

Verrechtlichung der Weltpolitik oder Politisierung des Rechts?

Die Debatte über transnationales Recht in den Internationalen Beziehungen

Abstract

Reflexive Transnational Law

The Privatisation of Civil Law and the Civilisation of Private Law

Abstract

Globalverfassung: Los desaparecidos und das Paradox der Menschenrechte

Abstract

Universalismus versus Globalisierung: Der Bruch in der Geschichte des westlichen Rechtsdenkens

Abstract

Rechtspluralismus und globale soziale Bewegungen

Abstract

Stefan Machura/Stefan Ulbrich (Hrsg.), Recht im Film

Call-for-Paper für eine Tagung für Nachwuchswissenschaftler/innen der sozialwissenschaftlichen Rechtsforschung

Autoren des Heftes