Theatre of the rule of law : transnational legal intervention in theory and practice / Stephen Humphreys.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Humphreys, Stephen, 1971- author.

Series:

Cambridge studies in international and comparative law (Cambridge, England : 1996) ; 73.

Cambridge studies in international and comparative law ; 73

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rule of law.

Rule of law--Political aspects.

Rule of law--Economic aspects.

International economic relations.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxx, 295 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2010.

System Details:

text file

PDF

Summary:

Theatre of the Rule of Law presents a sustained critique of global rule of law promotion - an expansive industry at the heart of international development, post-conflict reconstruction and security policy today. While successful in articulating and disseminating an effective global public policy, rule of law promotion has largely failed in its stated objectives of raising countries out of poverty and taming violent conflict. Furthermore, in its execution, this work deviates sharply from 'the rule of law' as commonly conceived. To explain this, Stephen Humphreys draws on the history of the rule of law as a concept, examples of legal export during colonial times, and a spectrum of contemporary interventions by development agencies and international organisations. Rule of law promotion is shown to be a kind of theatre, the staging of a morality tale about the good life, intended for edification and emulation, but blind to its own internal contradictions.

Contents:

pt. I. Parameters : 'rule of law' as a term of art

Society

Economy

Sovereignty

Precursors : colonial legal intervention

part II. Theatre of the Rule of Law

Market

State

Public.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9780511732393

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.