Understanding law and its efficacy in Latin America demands concepts distinct from the hegemonic notions of rule of law which have dominated debates on law, politics and society, and that recognize the diversity of situations and contexts characterizing the region. Scholarship about Latin America has made vital contributions to longstanding and emerging theoretical and methodological debates on the relationship between law and society and now, it is time for their critical evaluation.

The Routledge Handbook of Law and Society in Latin America presents new original research,...