Rule of Law in Global Politics

Abstract

Abstract The Rule of Law is both a description of a process for providing order in global politics and an aspiration about the conduct of global political relations. The Rule of Law can be contrasted with the rule of power and/or force, and as such can be said to be the underlying logic of contemporary developments in global governance. Equally, the Rule of Law is a standard that many commentators argue should be met (often as part of an evaluation that it has not). Therefore, in global politics the Rule of Law both acts as part of a political taxonomy, and is an important (increasingly globalized) norm to which states are increasingly held by international organizations, other states and non‐state actors. This operates at two levels: specified societies are judged against the taxonomy and accorded an evaluation of the extent to that they abide by the Rule of Law. However, global politics itself, and (perhaps more often) specific political actions or developments, can also be evaluated utilizing the yardstick of the Rule of Law.