Law in the First Person Plural

The first-person plural - ''we, ourselves'' - is the hallmark of a democracy under the rule of law in the modern age. Exploring the roots of this ''rule of recognition'', Bert van Roermund offers an in-depth reading of Rousseau''s work, focusing on its most fundamental leitmotif: the sovereignty of the people.

  Providing an innovative understanding of Rousseau''s politico-legal philosophy, this book illustrates the legal significance of plural agency and what it means for a people to act together: What do people share when using the word ''we''? What makes a people''s actions political? And what exactly is ''bodily'' about their joint commitment? Testing these ideas in three controversial modern debates - bio-technology, immigrant rights and populism - Van Roermund offers a critical assessment of ''political theology'' in contemporary legal environments and establishes a new interpretation of joint action as bodily entrenched.

  Incisive and cutting-edge, this book is crucial reading for scholars of jurisprudence and legal and political philosophy, particularly those with a focus on Rousseauian theory. Students of jurisprudence and constitutional theory will also benefit from its philosophical and political insights, as well as its discussions of pressing real-world issues.