Plunder

Reviews / Votes

"Plunder is a detailed, well written autopsy of how law and ourlegal system further strengthens the already powerful, whiledecimating those already located outside the reach of power. In theworld of the post-economic collapse, Plunder is a painfullyfrightening roadmap decrying the dangers of the exact "legal"practices (derivatives, call options, etc.) that brought on thecurrent economic crisis." (Multinational Monitor, Jan- Feb 2009) "Mattei and Nader note how win-win situations as ostensiblypromoted by Alternative Dispute Resolution practices are in factharmony ideologies that 'may be used to suppress people'sresistance, by socializing them toward conformity by means ofconsensus, cooperation, passivity, and docility, and by silencingpeople who speak out angrily." (Swans Commentary) "Without doubt this is an important book ... Mattei andNader have produced a courageous, intellectually refined, andsuperbly critical book about one of the main instruments ofsociety-building in our culture. The book should find a wideaudience in law classes, and in graduate courses of sociology,anthropology, and political sciences." (Journal of the RoyalAnthropological Institute)"Richly textured and strikingly original, Plunder draws onhistory, communication theory, and political analysis to show howU.S. policy expands influence and raids the pocketbooks of weakernations. Even if we do not call it by its oldname--imperialism--but globalization, free trade, or spreadingdemocracy, the result is the same. And at the heart of thisaggressively acquisitive policy lies a crown jewel of Enlightenmentthought, the rule of law. A gripping read." -Richard Delgado, University of Pittsburgh "This is a provocative, courageous, and path-breaking expose ofthe dark side of 'the rule of law', by two authors ofwide-ranging practical experience and theoretical insight." -George Bisharat, University of California, HastingCollege of the Law "Plunder is the powerful product of interdisciplinaryresearch that reveals how international law has become not aninstrument of protecting the weak against the strong, but a meansof legitimizing and enriching the powerful." -David H. Price, Saint Martin's University "Ugo Mattei and Laura Nader are advancing a profoundlydisturbing message. The 'rule of law' is not only abarrier to achieving a just society, but an ideological mechanismfor subjugating peoples and imposing injustice. I am impressed bytheir insights and especially by their courage." -William Greider, author, The Soul of Capitalism:Opening Paths to a Moral Economy "Through a sweeping exploration of global processes fromcolonialism to neo-liberalism, Plunder offers an eye-opening lookat the "dark side" of the rule of law. This powerfuland disturbing analysis of the ways law has legitimated andfacilitated the appropriation of knowledge and property challengeswidespread views of the law." -Sally Engle Merry, New York University "A lucid and implacable analysis of the crucial relationshipbetween law and life in the age of global capitalism. A beam ofharsh light on the murky area where the rule of law comes intocontact with and is shaped by power, violence and abuse." -Aldo Schiavone, Istituto Studi Umanistici