Chapter 2 Questions for reflection and discussion

  1. What role do you think law plays in the development of society? Is it necessary for a society to reach a particular level of development before law can play a useful role?
  2. What are the consequences for a country of not accepting the importance of the rule of law? Can you think of countries which are adversely affected because no one can trust the legal system to decide cases on an independent basis?
  3. How should the balance between the preservation of civil liberty and the maintenance of social order be best preserved? What are your reactions to the demonstrations (March 2021) on the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill?
  4. Can law protect the economically weak? If not, why not?
  5. What should be the relationship between law and morality? When should things we disapprove of be made unlawful?
  6. To what extent can principles of law be employed in the ordering of international affairs?
  7. How successful is law in shaping people’s behaviour? Can you think of examples where this has worked, and where it has not worked? How successful have the law relating to the Covid-19 pandemic been in getting people to socially distance and take other measures to reduce the spread of the virus?
  8. Are there other functions , apart from those set out in Chapter 2, that you think law plays in the ordering of society? Would you classify these functions as macro or micro?
  9. What can law contribute to dealing with major challenges facing us in the modern world, for example: control of pandemics, climate change, environmental damage and pollution, economic inequality?
Back to top