The topic of this article is the legal philosophical foundation of John Griffiths’s sociology of law. Griffiths has developed his foundation of sociology of law in discussion with three positions: legal realism, Hart and Dworkin. These three positions give three different answers on the question ‘what is law?’. In the first part Griffiths’s discussion of legal realism is analyzed. From the outset, a legal realistic approach to law has the benefit of its strong focus on the empirical determinants of predicting the outcomes of cases. Problematic, according to Griffiths, is a naïve instrumentalism, often related to legal realism. The second part on Hart’s theory discussed Hart’s notion of rule-following as the core of Griffiths’s sociology of law. Also the different perspectives on law are discussed. According to Griffiths, Black’s extreme external perspective is problematic, but Hart’s moderate external perspective is also not suitable for the external comparative purpose of sociology of law. In the third part, Dworkin’s theory is discussed. Griffiths, in my opinion, unsuccessfully, tried to reconcile Dworkin’s theory with legal positivism. Dworkin’s theory is an interpretive theory from the participant’s point of view, which makes it hard to use it as an adequate foundation of an empirical theory of law. For a sociologist of law, choosing an adequate conception of law is just as important as the choice for an empirical method. The contribution of Griffiths to sociology of law is in this sense unique and of great value for the sociology of law. |
In Memoriam |
In memoriam John Griffiths (1940-2017) |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 2 2018 |
Auteurs | Keebet von Benda-Beckmann en Heleen Weyers |
Auteursinformatie |
Artikel |
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Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 2 2018 |
Trefwoorden | sociology of law, Hart, Dworkin, Legal Realism, Black |
Auteurs | Jeroen Kiewiet |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Artikel |
Heeft John Griffiths de rechtssociologie verder gebracht?Een evaluatie van zijn werk vanuit het perspectief van het empirisch-theoretische onderzoeksprogramma |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 2 2018 |
Trefwoorden | P-T-O-scheme, sociology of law, concept of law, empirical research, Karl Popper |
Auteurs | Albert Klijn en Marnix Croes |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
A central ambition that Griffiths expressed rather frequently was to realize progress in the sociology of law by formulating informative theoretical propositions and testing them empirically according to the maxim of the critical-rational metatheoretical program of Karl Popper. Our analysis of Griffiths’s contributions suggests, however, that he actually refrained from following Popper’s path: to put a Problem – formulate a Theory – testing that provisional answer by empirical Observation. Instead, Griffiths focussed mostly on the rigorously clear formulation of concepts accordingly to his strong philosophical inclination. |
Redactioneel |
John Griffiths 1940-2017Herinneringen – Commentaren – Verwerkingen |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 2 2018 |
Auteurs | Albert Klijn, Heleen Weyers, Keebet von Benda-Beckmann e.a. |
Auteursinformatie |
Artikel |
John Griffiths’ streven naar een theoretisch kader voor de rechtssociologieEen kritische analyse |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 2 2018 |
Trefwoorden | socio-legal theory, social control, Rules, legal pluralism, Law |
Auteurs | Roel Pieterman |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This contribution focuses on John Griffiths’ relentless attempt at developing a general theoretical perspective for socio-legal studies. Hence, attention to Griffiths’ important contributions to legal pluralism and the social working of law approach is paid only in passing. Similar to a much earlier assessment, the analysis of Griffiths’ proposal in this contribution is quite critical. Measured against five criteria this author deems important for any socio-legal theoretical framework, the verdict is that Griffiths’ proposal falls short of all of them. The analysis itself focuses primarily on Griffiths’ attempt to redefine the subject for socio-legal studies in terms of social control, the way he uses the concept ‘law’, and his primary focus on rules and rule following. One overall conclusion is that Griffiths remained a legal scholar to a much greater extent than he would have liked. |
Artikel |
Verdergaan met de sociale-werkingsbenadering |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 2 2018 |
Trefwoorden | Effectiveness of law, social working approach, semi-autonomous social fields, smoking bans, impact assessments |
Auteurs | Heleen Weyers |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
John Griffiths’ social working approach of legislation tries to estimate the direct effects of laws which prescribe certain behavior. The basic idea of the approach is that rule-guided behavior (direct effect) is influenced by the different groups citizens belong to. Griffiths refers to these groups using the concept coined by Sally Moore (1971) ‘semi-autonomous social fields’. Although Griffiths never formulated hypotheses regarding the relation between SASFs and direct effects, the article explores two of them: If the relevant SASFs accept the new norm, direct effects will occur; and if the relevant SASFs are not ‘though’ (and don’t accept the new norm) direct effects will occur. These two hypotheses are related to the results of smoking bans in bars in the Netherlands. The acceptance of the smoking bans in bars is low. The thoughness of the SASFs in bars and their organization differ in time and so did the compliance with the smoking bans. Because this article is not based on research that depart from the hypotheses, further research based on the hypotheses is needed to draw firm conclusions. The article is rounded up with a plea to use Griffiths approach in impact assessments of legislation. |
Artikel |
De rol van intermediairs in het Nederlandse prostitutiebeleidTop-down toepassen of bottom-up aanpassen van regels? |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 2 2018 |
Trefwoorden | regulatory intermediaries, Social Working theory, Regulatory Intermediary Target model, prostitution policy |
Auteurs | Nicolle Zeegers |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Similar to the more current Regulator Intermediary Target (RIT) model, Griffiths’ Social Working (SW) theory points to the relevance of intermediaries for explaining rule following behavior. In this article, the author applies both theories (RIT and SW) concerning the role of intermediaries in rule following to explain developments in Dutch prostitution policy: the non-implementation of the emancipatory, sex workers’ rights based approach, and its replacement by a more repressive policy of closing down sex facilities. The analysis shows that although both theories contain useful starting point for explaining these developments, the SW theory’s special value is its acknowledgement of how regulatory intermediaries operate in a social field with existing social rules and a specific balance of power. Such rules and power relations have put barriers to the implementation of the Dutch prostitution policy as formulated in 1999. As illustrated in the article, the SW- theory offers more tools than the RIT- model for an analysis of how legal rules work in practice. |
In Memoriam |
John Griffiths’ bijdrage aan de naoorlogse rechtssociologie in Nederland |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 2 2018 |
Auteurs | Kees Schuyt |
Auteursinformatie |
In Memoriam |
John Griffiths 1940-2017 |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 2 2018 |
Auteurs | Richard Abel |
Auteursinformatie |
Artikel |
The effective public enforcement of cartels: perceptions on the functioning of the objection procedure and the reality |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Trefwoorden | Dispute resolution, Objection procedure, Cartel enforcement, Administrative law, Stakeholder interviews |
Auteurs | Mr. Annalies Outhuijse LLM |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Companies fined for infringing the cartel prohibition are denied access to the courts until the competition authority has reviewed its fining decision in the objection procedure. Several stakeholders have been negative about the functioning of this objection procedure in case of cartel fines, including because of its limited ability to resolve disputes and the cost and length of the procedure. In light of the discussions on the effectiveness of this objection procedure, this article analyses the ability of the cartel objection procedure to resolve disputes on basis of an analysis of the decisions on objection, as well as interviews with the parties involved in the objection procedure and a study of relevant literature. Previous studies have shown that the success of the objection procedure, regarding dispute resolution, depends on the nature of the dispute, the reason that the objection is made and the organisation of the procedure. Reviewing the data which was gathered through the interviews and case analysis with the knowledge of these factors influencing the success of the objection procedure, the article concludes that these previously carried out studies can explain the limited ability of the cartel objection procedure to resolve disputes. |
Artikel |
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Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Trefwoorden | Prejudiciële procedure, Hof van Justitie van de Europese Unie, Nationale rechters, Motieven om te verwijzen, rechtspolitiek |
Auteurs | Dr. Jasper Krommendijk LLM |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Het Hof van Justitie van de Europese Unie heeft baanbrekende uitspraken gedaan, vooral als gevolg van prejudiciële vragen van nationale rechters op grond van art. 267 VWEU. Het zijn vooral niet-verwijzingsplichtige lagere rechters geweest die voor deze aanvoer hebben gezorgd. Dit artikel onderzoekt hoe dit kan worden verklaard en kijkt naar de motieven van Nederlandse lagere rechters om al dan niet prejudiciële vragen te stellen aan het HvJ. Het doet dit op basis van interviews met 22 rechters en een uitgebreide juridische analyse van uitspraken. Dit artikel toont aan dat met name pragmatische en praktische overwegingen een rol spelen bij het besluit om te verwijzen. Daarnaast laat dit artikel zien dat er meer verschillen zijn binnen een lidstaat dan tussen lidstaten onderling, met name tussen gerechtelijke instanties en individuele rechters. |
Recensies en signalementen |
Schipperen tussen belangen in de ethische besluitvorming door advocaten |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Auteurs | Dr. Nina Holvast |
Auteursinformatie |
Redactioneel |
Hoe rechtssociologische en andere inzichten de ‘garbage can’ van besluitvorming niet hoeven missen |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Auteurs | Dr. Carolien Klein Haarhuis |
Auteursinformatie |
Artikel |
Empiricism as an ethical enterprise. On the work of Erhard Blankenburg |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Trefwoorden | Empiricism, Erhard Blankenburg, mobilization of law, legal instruments, problems and disputes |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Pieter Ippel |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This article gives an interpretation of the empirical work of the well-known sociologist of law Erhard Blankenburg, who passed away in the Spring of 2018. He conducted interesting and intelligent research on the process of ‘mobilization of law’. The thesis of this article is that Blankenburg’s empirical approach is actually guided and stimulated by normative considerations. A complete and coherent picture of the concrete utilization of legal instruments shows that ‘alternative’ ways of dealing with problems and disputes are often morally preferable as they are inspired by a realistic assessment of persons-in-a-social-context. |
Boekbespreking |
A bottom-up approach to litigation before the European Court of Justice |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Auteurs | Dr. Andreas Hofmann |
Auteursinformatie |
Recensies en signalementen |
Een gewichtig paradigma: we zijn gevaarlijk dik en daar moeten/kunnen we iets aan doen |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Auteurs | Dr. Ap Zaalberg |
Auteursinformatie |
Werk in uitvoering |
Defensieve geneeskunde: werk in uitvoering |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Auteurs | Shosha Wiznitzer LLM |
Auteursinformatie |
Recensies en signalementen |
Signaleringen |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Redactioneel |
Terug naar de ivoren toren! |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 1 2018 |
Auteurs | Dr. Rob Schwitters |
Auteursinformatie |
Recensies en signalementen |
Methodologie in actie |
Tijdschrift | Recht der Werkelijkheid, Aflevering 1 2018 |
Auteurs | Dr. Nienke Doornbos |
Auteursinformatie |