Pathways in Law and History

Voices. Pathways in Law and History is one of the three forms through which MILHIS Voices presents and reflects upon legal-historical research. It is devoted to the trajectories of inquiry, and to the processes through which historical knowledge of law is gradually shaped, rather than to definitive results or closed interpretations.

Each contribution focuses on a pathway—archival, methodological, intellectual, or interdisciplinary—bringing attention to the choices, passages, and detours that structure research over time. By foregrounding encounters with sources, research practices, and the circulation of ideas, Pathways shows how history and law intertwine through sustained scholarly work.

In this sense, Pathways emphasises continuity and connection. It traces the routes that link questions, materials, and perspectives, situating individual inquiries within broader research trajectories. Within the framework of MILHIS Voices, the section opens research processes to comparison and reflection, encouraging the interaction of different approaches while maintaining the specificity of each scholarly path.

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The second contribution to Pathways in History and Law is entrusted to Anne-Sophie Chambost, who reflects on her scholarly trajectory as a series of encounters, choices and intellectual openings. From her early engagement with the political nature of law — explored through the figure of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon — to her work on the history of legal thought and its media, Chambost highlights the methodological and interdisciplinary dimensions of legal history. Particular attention is given to the role of digital humanities and to the conditions of production and dissemination of legal knowledge. Her contribution also underscores the importance of public engagement, reaffirming the civic responsibility of legal historians in contemporary society.

Byroads in legal history

by Anne-Sophie Chambost – 27 March 2026

What does an academic journey reveal about us as lecturers and researchers ? Without giving too much away, I hope that the milestones outlined in this profile will offer some guidance to young legal scholars considering venturing down the path of legal history. To begin with, one thing is clear : a career is made up of encounters. There were many of them. From the first lecture that opened the door to a discipline (Ch. Bruschi), to the choice of a thesis topic with a supervisor whose confidence carried me forward (N. Dockès) ; to repeated collaborations, which crystallised in particular in the writing of an important book (J.-L. Halpérin, F. Audren) ; finally, since academics do indeed publish, cannot be ignore the encounters with publishers (S. Doireau, P. Rolin) and librarians (A. Gottely, V. Lacroix) without whom our work would not reach an audience.

My thesis topic was unusual, and remained so for a long time. Having become aware of the political nature of law, I focused my research on the legal thought of an anarchist (Pierre-Joseph Proudhon). This thesis topic proved to be a stroke of luck, as it opened the door to collaborations far beyond my own discipline (with philosophers, historians and economists). Interest from legal scholars came later, but it eventually materialised, and I had the chance to explain my work in a lecture at the Société d’histoire du droit … an expanded version of which was subsequently published on an anarchist website (https://www.grand-angle-libertaire.net/?p=4899) ! Today, I am delighted to see young legal scholars taking up the baton, with some highly stimulating insights.

Whilst the history of ideas struggles to gain recognition as a discipline, it is rich in epistemological insights, that have informed my thinking as a legal historian. Under the guise of defending the place of political ideas in legal studies, I proposed a methodological toolkit in an article published in 2015 in the Revue d’histoire des facultés de droit[1]. This line of thinking has continued and been enriched through my collaboration with my two co-authors on the book Histoires contemporaines du droit (Dalloz, 2020). My work on the history of legal thought had already been examining the material and intellectual conditions of the production, dissemination and reception of legal knowledge, with a particular focus on the media through which legal doctrine is conveyed (legal journals, law textbooks, reviews, etc.). With the support of my publishers, I created and developed the collection Contextes. Culture du droit, which has been contributing to the renewal of legal thought since 2014 (presentation in Les Cahiers Portalis https://droit.cairn.info/revue-les-cahiers-portalis-2024-2-page-75?lang=fr).

Digital humanities now play a vital role in legal research and the dissemination of legal knowledge. My collaborations with librarians have enabled me to appreciate the full extent of this, and these have led to fruitful outcomes : online exhibitions (first and foremost the one initiated by Florent Garnier, https://expo-grande-guerre-biu-cujas.univ-paris1.fr ), a website dedicated to the journal of Critique du droit (https://data-cercrid.inist.fr/s/proces/ark:/54726/R9GqR5P9k3gG), and a tool for exploring one of the collections at the Cujas Library (https://bcujas-hoppe.univ-paris1.fr).

The milestones in the journey outlined so far have been set with the research community in mind. But I believe it is important, in conclusion, to emphasise the value of engaging in public debate. This is one of the missions of higher education as a public service. In the current climate, it is essential for academics to put their knowledge at the service of the community. To this end, my concern for dissemination has recently found a new form of expression with the publication of a first (semi-)fictional text, Jusqu’à la garde. L’assassinat de Sadi Carnot (Libel, 2026). It offers another, more nuanced and sensitive way of reflecting on the scope of certain radical ideas. Once an anarchist, always an anarchist…

Anne-Sophie Chambost

Professor of Legal History at Sciences Po Lyon

Editor in chief of the Collection Contextes. Culture du droit, Paris, LGDJ (La mémoire du droit)

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[1] Anne-Sophie Chambost. « Ce n’est pas du droit… » L’histoire des idées politiques est-elle utile en droit ?. Revue d’histoire des facultés de droit et de la culture juridique, du monde des juristes et du livre juridique, 2015 (35), p. 497-538.