Report from the Jury

We received three nominations this year, any of whom would have been a worthy winner of the award. We structured our discussions by reference to the lifetime contribution of the candidates, their contributions to both theory and research, and their service to the socio-legal community.

After careful consideration of the candidates’ CVs and letters of support, the jury decided that the Podgorecki Prize for 2015 should be awarded to Professor Andre-Jean Arnaud.

Professor Arnaud’s scholarly contributions extend back almost fifty years and represent an extraordinary and exemplary body of work. This has been foundational in relation to scholarship throughout the civil law world, particularly in France, Italy and South America. He has also been prominently engaged with international organizations, notably UNESCO and the UNDP. His writing embraces both theoretical and empirical concerns, from his early work on the history of the French civil code to later studies of legal reasoning. In terms of his service to the socio-legal community, we would highlight particularly his contributions to the creation of the IISL in Oñati, recognized by his honorary life membership of the Governing Board. However, we also noted his role in the creation of the important journal, Droit et Societé, his continuing engagement with postgraduate supervision and support for early-career scholars and his record of involvement with the RCSL. We are pleased to make this award to a scholar who has done so much to establish and sustain the sociology of law, both intellectually and institutionally, over so many years.

Maria Ines Bergoglio

Robert Dingwall (Chair)

Stephan Parmentier

2015 Call for Nominations: see our Archive page

André-Jean Arnaud died on December 25th 2015.

This page last updated 15 January 2016