A wonderful book, inspiring and appropriate. It should be read by everyone, Independent The term "the rule of law" is frequently used but rarely investigated. More recently than democracy, the idea of the rule of law serving as the cornerstone of contemporary nations and civilizations has gained talismanic status. But what does it actually entail? One of the sharpest legal minds in the world and a former senior law lord of Britain investigates what the concept truly implies in this fascinating little book. He emphasises that the rule of law is not a dry legal notion but rather the cornerstone of a just and fair society, a promise of responsible government, a significant factor in economic progress, and the finest strategy yet developed 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.