What can 'globalisation' teach us about law in the Western tradition? This important new work seeks to explore that question by analysing key ideas and events in the Western legal tradition, including the Papal Revolution, the Protestant Reformations and the Enlightenment. Addressing the role of law, morality and politics, it looks at the creation of orders which offer the possibility for global harmony, in particular the United Nations and the European Union. It also considers the unification of international commercial laws in the attempt to understand Western law in a time of accelerating cultural interconnections. The title will appeal to scholars of legal history and globalisation as well as students of jurisprudence and all those trying to understand globalisation and the Western dynamic of law and authority.

'Intellectually this is a clear, strongly argued and defensible thesis and is therefore a worthy addition to the Cambridge University Press stable. Beyond that, it is more than just another academic tomb. Liberal references throughout to art, philosophy, religion and of course, history as well as recent popular culture, such as The Simpsons, also make it an interesting read beyond the narrow band of legal scholars who might otherwise be concerned with such a work. I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it.'

Source: Law Society Journal

'This is an intellectually stimulating book exploring key ideas and events in the Western legal tradition to address the role of law, morality and politics in the modern global context. It also considers the reasons for codifying many international commercial practices and codes into laws. This book will appeal to those who have an interest in legal history and jurisprudence and how they impact on globalisation.'

Source: Compliance and Regulatory Journal

'Addressing an audience of members of the legal profession, academia and industry at the launch held at Deacons' Sydney offices, Justice Kirby said that the book should be compulsory reading in all Australian law schools.'

Source: Lawyers Weekly

'… a brave and conscientious effort to mark out a vast field that is certainly in need of mapping. It is likely to be of most interest as a preliminary survey, and also for its pluralistic vision of what law should be and for its thoughtful, incidental insights on regulatory questions. It offers a helpful overview in a crowded literature that has too often avoided any serious concern with the big picture sketched here.'

Source: Public Law