Includes bibliographical references (p. 160-168) and index.

From publisher: Law touches every aspect of our daily lives. This book uncovers the rudiments of law, explaining the concepts, terms, and processes of legal systems in a clear, jargon-free manner, and revealing how the law provides a framework for almost every social, political, and economic activity from the settlement of international disputes to the protection of our personal fredom. The focus is on the Western legal tradition, but the author also looks at other topics including Islamic law, the history of law, and the challenges facing law in the light of globalization and rapid advances in technology.