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The forces of law: duty, coercion, and power

Abstract:
This paper addresses the relationship between law and coercive force. It defends, against Frederick Schauer's contrary claims, the following propositions: (a) The force of law consists in three things, not one: the imposition of duties, the use of coercion, and the exercise of social power. These are different and distinct. (b) Even if coercion is not part of the concept of law, coercion is connected to law many important ways, and these are amply recognized in contemporary analytic jurisprudence. (c) We cannot determine how important coercion is to the efficacy of law until we know what counts as coercive force. The question of what counts as coercion is not a matter for generalization or stipulation. It requires an explanation of the concept of coercion.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1111/raju.12122

Authors


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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
SSD
Department:
Law
Sub department:
Law Faculty
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Wiley
Journal:
Ratio Juris More from this journal
Volume:
29
Issue:
2
Pages:
164-181
Publication date:
2016-05-23
Acceptance date:
2016-01-03
DOI:
ISSN:
1467-9337


Pubs id:
pubs:597634
UUID:
uuid:74accd56-57b1-4be4-9b48-1b5522ca9b9d
Local pid:
pubs:597634
Source identifiers:
597634
Deposit date:
2016-01-26

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