1 - Introduction

Summary

Regulation is increasingly seen as a distinct field of academic inquiry. Yet it is often difficult to obtain a holistic sense of its contours and the nature of its terrain. The primary aim of this book is to provide a map that will help to orientate those encountering this field for the first time. We construct this map by drawing together material from a range of disciplinary perspectives from law and the social sciences. Three objectives flesh out our broad aim. Firstly, we seek to challenge lawyers to look beyond conventional legal sources. Secondly, as a corollary objective for those who are not lawyers, this book seeks to examine the role of law as an instrument of social control within regulation broadly understood. Thirdly, we aim to break down a subject which can be rather daunting for newcomers into digestible and accessible form. The map we draw is structured around four core conceptual facets of regulation: (i) theories of regulation, (ii) techniques and instruments for regulating, (iii) compliance with and enforcement of regulation and (iv) issues of accountability and legitimacy in relation to regulation. We then extend this map, in the penultimate chapter, by applying our conceptual framework to regulation in the supranational context. The resulting taxonomy is intended to provide a descriptive sense of the breadth and variety in approaches to regulation across political studies, economics, law, criminology and sociology.