The Rule of Law: Tom Bingham

‘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 civilisations 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.

FIRST PUBLICATION

The book was published first in the year 2010.

GENERAL SUBJECT AREA

Some of the important subject area dealt are:

1. Importance of Rule of Law
2. Equality Before Law
3. A Fair Trial
4. Dispute Resolution
5. The Rule of Law in International Legal Order
6. Terrorism and Rule of Law

QUOTE FROM PREFACE

“The book, although written by a former judge, is not addressed to lawyers. It does not purport to be a legal textbook. It is addressed to those who have heard references to the rule of law, who are inclined to think that it sounds like a good thing rather than a bad thing, who wonder it may not be rather important, but who are quite sure what it is all about and would like to make up their minds. “

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas Henry Bingham, Baron Bingham of Cornhill, KG (Most noble order of Garter), Privy Council of United Kingdom, Fellowship of the British Academy (13 October 1933 – 11 September 2010), was an eminent British judge who was successively Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief Justice and Senior Law Lord. He was described as the greatest lawyer of his generation. The Hon’ble Judge played a  pioneering role in the formation of the United Kingdom Supreme Court.

ACCOLADE

After retiring from the judiciary in 2008, Tom Bingham’s book, The Rule of Law, was published in 2010 and posthumously won the 2011 Orwell Prize for Literature. The British Institute of International and Comparative Law named the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law in his honour.

PRICE

The book is priced at Rs. 315.94 in Kindle Edition available at Amazon.in.

PUBLISHER

The book is published by Penguin.

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to body.”