Legality, Empire, Plunder: A Review of 'Plunder: When the Rule of Law is Illegal'

Journal of Law & Society, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 599, 2009

8 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2013 Last revised: 19 Feb 2013

See all articles by Nimer Sultany

Nimer Sultany

University of London, School of Oriental & African Studies - School of Law

Date Written: November 1, 2009

Abstract

This essay reviews Ugo Mattei and Laura Nader's book. After presenting the arguments I problematize three central themes in the book: legality, empire, and plunder. Examining each one of these themes I show that the authors did not present a convincing account. Legality is not carefully distinguished from other terms like justice, formal legitimacy, or substantive legitimacy. Imperialism is used in different ways throughout the book and the authors do not contrast their usage with Hardt and Negri's. Plunder is presented expansively as a unifying logic and in a functionalist manner. I conclude by calling for analytical clarity in scholarship examining the ideology of law.

Suggested Citation

Sultany, Nimer, Legality, Empire, Plunder: A Review of 'Plunder: When the Rule of Law is Illegal' (November 1, 2009). Journal of Law & Society, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 599, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2218045

Nimer Sultany (Contact Author)

University of London, School of Oriental & African Studies - School of Law ( email )

London, WC1H 0XG
United Kingdom

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