Chris Thornhill is Professor in Law at the University of Manchester. He is the author of several books on the sociology of law, especially on the sociology of constitutions. His books and other writings have been translated into many languages. He is a member of the Academia Europaea.

'Chris Thornhill endeavours to reconstruct a theory of democracy that is descriptively more realistic and normatively more robust than classical theories of democracy. … This work has the merit that it connects a very informed socio-historical approach with a fundamental sociological thesis concerning the linkage between the political system and the system of law. … [A] book that is without any doubt of crucial importance in the contemporary sociology of law.' Jean de Munck, translated from Droit et Société

• Introduction; 1. The paradox of democracy and the sociology of law; 2. National democracy and global law; 3. Before the law?; 4. Politics becomes the law; 5. The reconstruction of democratic agency; Conclusion.

Chris Thornhill is Professor in Law at the University of Manchester. He is the author of several books on the sociology of law, especially on the sociology of constitutions. His books and other writings have been translated into many languages. He is a member of the Academia Europaea.

'Chris Thornhill endeavours to reconstruct a theory of democracy that is descriptively more realistic and normatively more robust than classical theories of democracy. … This work has the merit that it connects a very informed socio-historical approach with a fundamental sociological thesis concerning the linkage between the political system and the system of law. … [A] book that is without any doubt of crucial importance in the contemporary sociology of law.' Jean de Munck, translated from Droit et Société

• Introduction; 1. The paradox of democracy and the sociology of law; 2. National democracy and global law; 3. Before the law?; 4. Politics becomes the law; 5. The reconstruction of democratic agency; Conclusion.

Chris Thornhill is Professor in Law at the University of Manchester. He is the author of several books on the sociology of law, especially on the sociology of constitutions. His books and other writings have been translated into many languages. He is a member of the Academia Europaea.

'Chris Thornhill endeavours to reconstruct a theory of democracy that is descriptively more realistic and normatively more robust than classical theories of democracy. … This work has the merit that it connects a very informed socio-historical approach with a fundamental sociological thesis concerning the linkage between the political system and the system of law. … [A] book that is without any doubt of crucial importance in the contemporary sociology of law.' Jean de Munck, translated from Droit et Société

• Introduction; 1. The paradox of democracy and the sociology of law; 2. National democracy and global law; 3. Before the law?; 4. Politics becomes the law; 5. The reconstruction of democratic agency; Conclusion.