When he died in 1984, Michel Foucault was regarded as one of the most profoundly influential philosophers of his day. Although the law itself never formed a central focus for Foucault, many of the principal themes in his writings are concerned with issues of governance and power that are of direct relevance to the study of law. And yet, until now. Foucault's work has attracted only fleeting att…
In introducing these explorations in law and society that this book undertakes it is important not to succumb to what might be called the retrospective fallacy. This is the fallacy that creates the illusion that both the path traveled and the destination arrived at were carefully planned and were fully self-conscious. It is not necessary to go to the other extreme and suggest that everything wa…