Your World of Legal Intelligence
 United Kingdom | +44 (0) 20 7284 8080

Book Review: Crossroads, Directions, and a New Critical Race Theory

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
AuthorPatricia Tuitt
Date01 March 2005
DOI10.1177/096466390501400108
Published date01 March 2005
Subject MatterArticles
BOOK REVIEWS
141
he does not seem to accept that sociolegal inquiries cannot merely study legal and
social postmodernity (however characterized) as an object, but must transform them-
selves (their methods, aspirations and theory) in the light of postmodern insights
about the character of knowledge, politics and social relations. Throughout the book
there are hints that the implications are not fully recognized. Passing references to
law ‘in the most developed societies’ or law’s ‘concrete, sociological processes’ (pp. 2,
232) beg fundamental questions about the meaning of the adjectives used. On the
other hand, what legal sociology is already doing is sometimes underplayed here, and
only a limited discussion is offered of the now extensive sociolegal literature on many
detailed aspects of what Edgeworth identifies as the new legal order.
Nevertheless, this book provides much interesting, perceptive commentary and a
very useful survey of a wide range of material about processes of legal and social trans-
formation that are in many respects fundamental and pervasive.
ROGER COTTERRELL
Queen Mary, University of London, UK
FRANCISCO VALDES, JEROME MCCRISTAL CULP AND ANGELA P. HARRIS (eds),
Crossroads, Directions, and a New Critical Race Theory. Philadelphia, PA: Temple
University Press, 2002, 440 pp., £18.37 (pbk).
The title to this volume promises a new and progressive orientation in critical race
theory’s intellectual and political engagement with various systems of power,
foremost of which are legal institutions and the academy. It is very soon revealed that,
at least from the perspective of the contributors to this multidimensional collection,
the distinctive tenet of a ‘new critical race theory’ would be captured in the opening
up of the movement to a broader spectrum of critical theory. Although the first three
of the substantive chapters reflect, in broadly celebratory style, upon the legacies of
critical race theory in its early incantation, several of the authors see an urgent need
for critical race theory to engage in a wider conversation. Valdes urges critical race
theorists to move beyond the ‘convergence of...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT