The Rule of Law

The Common Sense of Global Politics

Christopher May, Emeritus Professor of Political Economy, Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University, UK

This timely book explores the complexities of the rule of law – a well-used but perhaps less well understood term – to explain why it is so often appealed to in discussions of global politics. Ranging from capacity building and the role of the World Bank to the discourse(s) of lawyers and jurisprudential critiques, it seeks to introduce non-lawyers to the important and complex political economy of the rule of law.

‘For too long, the rule of law has been assumed as opposed to rigorously interrogated. Christopher May’s excellent study not only draws attention to this oversight, but also lucidly demonstrates how and why the rule of law has achieved the status of common sense of global politics. For anyone interested in the legalization of global politics as well as its social, political and ideological consequences, this superb book is essential reading.’
– Susanne Soederberg, Queen’s University, Canada

‘Christopher May’s The Rule of Law is clearly a must for all those interested in legal problems, international political economy, economic development, post-conflict restructuring or, more generally, the role of norms in today’s globalised world. A timely and insightful disruption of the monotony of the rule of law discourse, this book definitely calls into question our supposedly commonsensical assumptions and self-evident practices. It is, therefore, clearly a significant achievement and undoubtedly recommended.’
– Ignas Kalpokas, LSE Book Review