In honor of the centennial of Evgeny Pachukanis’s seminal work Law and Marxism, this colloquium will bring together scholars in Marxist legal theory and philosophy to explore the intersections of materialism, Marxism, and law. Pachukanis’s pioneering ideas on law as a form inherently tied to class relations and the structures of capitalist society remain influential in critiques of legal formalism and continue to inspire diverse applications in contemporary socio-legal studies. The event aims to delve into key themes from Pachukanis’s theory of law as a tool for sustaining capitalist power dynamics, while also evaluating the evolving role of legal systems under modern capitalism and potential pathways for emancipatory legal praxis. Participants will include experts from various disciplinary and international backgrounds, who will engage in discussions on how materialist conceptions of law have developed since Pachukanis’s time.


Programme

10.00-12.30: 100 years of Pachukanis’ General Theory of Law and Marxism
Rob Knox, University of Liverpool
Tor Krever, University of Cambridge
Sergio Tapia Arguello, Unam / CES
Discussant: Jonas Van Vossole, CES

14.00-16.30 : Materialism, Marxism and Law
Marcela Uchôa, Instituto de Estudos Filosoficos, UC
Luis Vale de Meneses, Instituto Juridico, UC
Discussant: TBC