Description This book examines the functions and effectiveness of law in the countries of the former Soviet Union. The emphasis is on the interplay between law, social norms, human values and informal practices in particular. The book deepens our understanding both of how law works in the societies under consideration, and of the post-communist transition as whole. Features This book is a contribution to both the literature on law and society, and the study of the post-communist transition A unique attempt to integrate the lessons from Eastern European practices into western jurisprudence An interdisciplinary approach to the examination of the meanings and functions of law in the post-communist social environment The first book to deal extensively with culture and informal practices, whilst at the same time assessing the role of the law