On the Rule of Law

By Brian Z. Tamanaha,

Book cover of On the Rule of Law: History, Politics, Theory

Book description

The rule of law is the most important political ideal today, yet there is much confusion about what it means and how it works. This 2004 book explores the history, politics, and theory surrounding the rule of law ideal, beginning with classical Greek and Roman ideas, elaborating on medieval contributions…

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Why read it?

1 author picked On the Rule of Law as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Short and accessible, this is a book that I consistently return to when considering how the rule of law has been understood in different places and times from Ancient Greece through the Medieval World to today.

In my view, there simply isn’t a better starting point for understanding what the rule of law means and why it is so contested. At the same time, Tamanaha shows why the rule of law remains both a useful concept and an ideal worth aspiring to. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand the rule of law and its complexities.

From Geoffrey's list on promoting the rule of law.

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