The Anxiety of Influence: Wikipedia and Law

The Anxiety of Influence: Wikipedia and Law 

Florian Grisel, Associate Professor of Socio-Legal Studies, Law Faculty, University of Oxford 

This seminar presents empirical data that explores how Wikipedia’s editors reject the law while replicating law-like structures for the governance of their network. However, they reflexively talk about and use these structures in ways that do not allow “law” to interfere with their larger collective project. Additionally, on closer examination and in practice, the law they are trying to avoid often works – and is talked about – in ways that are very similar to their own law-like structures. 

About the speaker 

Florian Grisel is Associate Professor at the Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies. Prior to joining Oxford, he was Deputy Director of the Centre de théorie et analyse du droit (the Centre for Legal Theory and Analysis) at Paris Nanterre University. 

Florian’s research focuses on private governance, fisheries management, legal…