Social and Economic Order Without Law - PPE00002H
Module summary
Using the tools of game theory, we study institutions created by different societies to maintain social order in the absence of law. Examples include tribes in the Amazon, Indian castes, strict religious communities, diamond dealers in New York City, and Californian prison gangs, among others.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2026-27 |
Module aims
In our society, the primary guarantee of social order is the law, enforced by the power of the state. However, in most societies in the world and for most of human history, law has been weak or absent. In the absence of law, societies have developed other institutions to maintain social order. We will study these institutions using the formal tools of game theory and case studies from anthropology, sociology, and history. Topics include informal relationships; revenge, including through the use of violence; seemingly irrelevant social identities such as race and religion; non-state enforcement institutions such as organised crime; and the origin and development of the state. Case studies we will consider include tribes in the Amazon, Indian castes, strict religious communities, diamond dealers in New York City, and Californian prison gangs, among others.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to apply formal game theoretic analysis to understand real-life social institutions.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 100.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 100.0 |
Module feedback
Students will receive written feedback on their assessment no later than 25 working days. They will have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.
Indicative reading
Indicative texts include:
Napoleon A. Chagnon, “The Yanomamo,” Wadsworth Publishing, 2012
David Skarbek, “The Social Order of the Underworld: How Prison Gangs Govern the American Penal System,” Oxford University Press, 2014