Law is the set of rules governing people’s interactions. It includes both formal and informal rules. Formal rules include contract law regulating the exchange of goods, services or anything else of value and property law defining people’s rights and duties toward tangible property, such as land and buildings, and intangible property, such as bank accounts and shares of stock. Informal rules may involve etiquette, morality or the will of a deity.
The precise nature of law is the subject of a long-running debate. It has been argued that law is a system of social control, a body of rules that prevents disorder and promotes order, or a system of justice that guarantees fairness in personal and business dealings. Modern legal pragmatists, such as Posner (1995), place much more faith in judges’ insight into new situations than in the application of established rules or strained analogies with ancient precedents.
Even in a well-ordered society, conflicts arise. The law provides a way to resolve them peacefully, for example, by deciding who owns a piece of land. It also ensures that the same rules apply to everyone, which helps to maintain a stable and safe environment.
Laws achieve a range of goals, depending on the nation’s political system. For example, an authoritarian regime may keep the peace and preserve the status quo, but it might also oppress minorities or discourage social change (see colonialism). In contrast, a democratic government might balance these goals by promoting peace and stability while protecting individual rights.