The sociologies of law of Marx, Weber and Durkheim : a comparison and critical synthesis

Abstract

Sociology of law is a rich and multi-­‐faceted field encompassing macro and micro sociological and criminological concepts and addressing issues of law in society. This paper draws upon the law-­‐related works of the three classical sociological thinkers – the “fathers” of Sociology – Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim, in order to synthesize their respective sociologies of law. By developing a thorough understanding of each theorist’s approach, comparing and contrasting the three, and critically appraising their perspectives, this paper strives to accomplish a more well-­‐rounded understanding of the field of Sociology of Law from the various sociological perspectives that the three thinkers represent.