SPECIAL ISSUE ON LEGAL PLURALISM WITHIN THE NATION STATE

CALL FOR PAPERS

The journal Law, Social Justice and Global Development seeks submissions for peer-reviewed and non-refereed articles for publication in a forthcoming special issue on Legal Pluralism within the Nation State. This special issue of the LGD will be edited by Fauzia Shariff of the School of Oriental and African Studies.

This special issue seeks to examine the dynamics of legal pluralism within the nation state. Although underdeveloped in European countries, there is recognition outside Europe and increasing awareness in Europe, that semi-autonomous normative social spaces exist within the state. In these normative orders individuals may give primacy, in some circumstances, to norms which are not recognised/sanctioned by state law, and which conflict with state law. The transplantation of legal systems derived from Europe and the colonial construction of plural state legal orders has promoted a great deal of complexity in many countries of the Global South. Unpicking the dynamics of co-existing normative social fields within the state is a valuable prerequisite to resolving and theorising problems facing contemporary law and society. These challenges demand a better understanding not only of the normative social spaces or legal orders themselves but also of how individuals and sub-groups inhabit and navigate through them.

Contributions are welcome on any topics related to this theme including the following: examples of legal implants; individual navigations of legal transplants and personal law systems, studies of criminalised groups; examples of extra-legal practices within state institutions; and studies of other spheres of socialisation where the existence of norms has the potential to conflict with state law.

The LGD especially welcomes contributions from scholars, practitioners and activists in developing countries, transitional economies and international organisations. Contributors are encouraged to refer to our section of Journal Scope and Submission Standards for more information on the scope of the journal and citation and article format details.

Full papers, between 5,000 – 8,000 words, can be submitted for peer review before 30 April 2008. Please note that each paper will be reviewed by two referees in the field of the paper’s subject matter. Submissions of articles on the above topics for publication as non-refereed pieces are also welcome. These should take the form of commentaries, reports on contemporary developments and/or recently-held conferences and events, case summaries and analyses, and book reviews. Non-refereed papers should be submitted by 31 May 2008.

Anyone interested in submitting an article and wishing to clarify substantive issues relating to the scope of the article should contact Fauzia Shariff at Fauz.Knight@yahoo.co.uk (020 7898 4565). For all other inquiries, please contact Masha Baraza (details on the Call for Papers page). Articles may be sent by post, preferably with a digital copy on disk (in Word format), to the address above, or via email to M.N.Baraza@warwick.ac.uk