The apotheosis of the rule of law

Loughlin, Martin ORCID: 0000-0002-6102-6453 (2018) The apotheosis of the rule of law. Political Quarterly, 89 (4). pp. 659-666. ISSN 0032-3179

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Abstract

In 1885 A.V. Dicey identified the rule of law as a key principle of British constitutional law. Presenting it both as a product of English common law method and an expression of classical liberalism, Dicey's concept lingered on into the twentieth century but mainly as a contentious ideological doctrine or simply as a vague rhetorical slogan. During the last fifty years, however, the concept has been revived, recrafted, relocated and reified. The rule of law has become a universal trope, albeit with a range of contestable meanings. This article traces this development, showing how it has been converted into a phrase of considerable political potency not only domestically but also in the international arena.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1467923x
Additional Information:	© 2018 The Author
Divisions:	Law School
Subjects:	K Law > K Law (General)
Date Deposited:	06 Sep 2018 10:48
Last Modified:	11 Sep 2025 05:37
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/90179

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