Limits of Private Governance: Norms and Rules in a Mediterranean Fishery

The Limits of Private Governance examines the long-term evolution of a private order in the fishery of Marseille, arguing that strong social norms are powerful tools of governance but also forces of inertia that have constrained its regulatory action. This book will appeal to academics, policy-makers, and the general public interested in the governance of modern societies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 07 October 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The book "The Limits of Private Governance" by Florian Grisel delves into a captivating question that has been debated by social scientists in recent decades. Since the 1980s, scholars in the field of socio-legal studies have proposed that governance based on social norms, often referred to as "private governance," can serve as an alternative to regulation by the law. According to this perspective, private governance can be socially efficient and even optimal, surpassing other modes of governance.

To complement this optimistic analysis of private governance, Grisel presents "The Limits of Private Governance." In this book, he examines the long-term evolution of a private order in the fishery of Marseille. Throughout the past eight centuries, the fishermen of Marseille have managed their community without apparent legal support from the French state. Even as early as the 15th century, they established an organization called the Prud homie de Pêche to regulate their fishery. Grisel conducts his analysis based on archival evidence, interviews, and ethnographic data. Through his examination, he argues that the strong social norms embedded within the Prud homie de Pêche are not only powerful tools of governance but also forces of inertia that have limited its regulatory action.

The insights and lessons derived from this book have broad appeal to academics, policy-makers, and members of the general public who are interested in the governance of modern societies. Grisel's work contributes to our understanding of the complexities and challenges of private governance, offering valuable insights into the potential and limitations of this approach to social regulation.

Weight: 444g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509938148