The rule of law is sometimes expressed as 'no person is above the law'. A more comprehensive description of the concept has been elusive for generations of scholars, lawyers and judges. What does the phrase mean? More specifically, what does the rule of law mean in the context of 21st century issues and challenges?
Professor Robert A Stein, Justice Richard J Goldstone and CEELI Institute Founder Homer Moyer are the distinguished editors and authors of the second edition of The Rule of Law in the 21st Century, published in association with the International Bar Association. Joining Stein, Goldstone and Moyer is an array of internationally distinguished leaders of the legal profession from North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East to explore the meaning of the rule of law today in a variety of circumstances.

The book examines the concept of the rule of law from a variety of perspectives, beginning with the basic principles and all-important definitional issue of what the term "rule of law" means, and includes fully updated chapters covering the independence of the judiciary and the internationalisation of the rule of law.

The second edition also contains several new chapters, including:

War crimes and genocide: ultimate violations of the rule of law;
Addressing the problem of corruption that threatens the rule of law;
The rule of law and inequality of women in the US judiciary;
Thirty years of rule of law learning; and
Chapters describing law reform programmes that have strengthened the rule of law around the world in recent decades.
The rule of law is humankind's best hope for freedom and justice. The second edition of The Rule of Law in the 21st Century gives us a better understanding of this important concept in the world today.

Foreword to the First Edition 7
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Introduction 9
Richard J Goldstone
Retired justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Homer E Moyer, Jr
Miller & Chevalier
Robert A Stein
University of Minnesota Law School

Chapter 1. What is the rule of law? 11
Robert A Stein
University of Minnesota Law School

Chapter 2. Independence of the judiciary 25
Richard J Goldstone
Retired justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa

Chapter 3. Internationalisation of the rule of law 33
Richard J Goldstone
Retired justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa

Chapter 4. Rule of law initiatives: CEELI - its genesis and milestones 45
Homer E Moyer, Jr
Miller & Chevalier

Chapter 5. Rule of law initiatives: the CEELI Institute - advancing the rule of law 65
Homer E Moyer, Jr
Miller & Chevalier

Chapter 6. Rule of law initiatives: tackling the problem of knowledge - 30 years of rule of law learning 85
Elizabeth A Andersen
World Justice Project

Chapter 7. Official corruption: a threat to the rule of law 105
Kathryn Cameron Atkinson
Homer E Moyer, Jr
Miller & Chevalier

Chapter 8. The rule of law through the lens of international criminal law 119
Mark S Ellis
International Bar Association

Chapter 9. Rule of law and sex discrimination: women and the American judiciary 139
Mariah A Lindsay
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Allison M Whelan
University of Pennsylvania

Chapter 10. Judicial independence in Islam 161
Essam Al Tamimi
Al Tamimi & Company

Chapter 11. Rule of law programmes: a primer 175
Michael Maya
International Bar Association

Chapter 12. Rule of law promotion efforts moving forward 201
Michael Maya
International Bar Association

Chapter 13. Durability of the rule of law 229
Homer E Moyer, Jr
Miller & Chevalier

Chapter 14. Prospects and challenges for the rule of law 241
Richard J Goldstone
Retired justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Robert A Stein
University of Minnesota Law School

Appendices

Appendix A: Universal Declaration of Human Rights 247

Appendix B: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 253

Appendix C: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 273

Appendix D: The Constitution of the United States 285

Appendix E: The South African Bill of Rights 303

About the authors 317