The Rule of Law

"The Rule of Law" is a phrase much used but little examined. The idea of the rule of law as the foundation of modern states and civilizations has recently become even more talismanic than that of democracy, but what does it actually consist of? In this brilliant short book, Britain's former senior law lord, and one of the world's most acute legal minds, examines what the idea actually means. He makes clear that the rule of law is not an arid legal doctrine but is the foundation of a fair and just society, is a guarantee of responsible government, is an important contribution to economic growth and offers the best means yet devised for securing peace and co-operation. He briefly examines the historical origins of the rule, and then advances eight conditions which capture its essence as understood in western democracies today. He also discusses the strains imposed on the rule of law by the threat and experience of international terrorism. The book will be influential in many different fields and should become a key text for anyone interested in politics, society, and the state of our world.

• The Tools of Argument: How the Best Lawyers Think, Argue, and Win
• What About Law?: Studying Law at University
• Storytelling for Lawyers
• Bleak House (Wordsworth Classics)
• Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About American Law, Fourth Edition
• Letters to a Law Student
• On The Rule of Law: History, Politics, Theory
• Head in the Cloud: Why Knowing Things Still Matters When Facts Are So Easy to Look Up
• Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?
• Is Eating People Wrong?: Great Legal Cases and How they Shaped the World