Law and Disorder: Sovereignty, Protest, Atmosphere

Law and Disorder explores the relationship between sovereignty and protest,using an affective theory of public order and protest. It focuses on the moment when social unrest takes hold of a populace,shattering the everyday peace and calm of public space. The state unleashes the full force of its exceptionality,and the violence of public order policing is deployed to restore the affects and atmospheres of habitual social relations. This book is a work of contemporary critical legal theory that develops an affective theory of sovereign orders by focusing on the government of affective life and popular encounters with sovereignty.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Law and Disorder delves into the intricate dynamics of sovereignty when social unrest ensues, offering a fresh perspective on public order and protest through an affective theory. In the midst of turmoil, the very foundations of sovereign order begin to shake, disrupting the everyday tranquility of public spaces. The state responds by unleashing its exceptional powers, employing the violence of public order policing to restore the familiar affects and atmospheres of habitual social relations. This book serves as a groundbreaking contribution to contemporary critical legal theory, advancing an affective theory of sovereign orders by exploring the governance of affective life and the widespread encounters with sovereignty.

The chapters within this text delve into the multifaceted relationship between sovereignty and public order, specifically focusing on the policing of public order as a contemporary mode of exceptionality rooted in colonial subjugation. The state of unrest unveils the ordinary affects of the sovereign order, while also highlighting the crucial role of crowds in the production of unrest. The atmospheres generated by these crowds permeate cities and states, fostering new possibilities for political and social organization.

In essence, crowds create the affective conditions that enable the reevaluation of the settlement at the core of the sovereign order. This text develops a comprehensive theory of sovereignty that centers around protest, while also grounding protest in the affective valence of crowds.

The examination of the relationship between sovereignty and protest in this book holds significant appeal to readers engaged in law, politics, and cultural studies. It sheds light on the complex interplay between power, authority, and the collective experiences of individuals and communities. By exploring the emotional dimensions of law and disorder, Law and Disorder offers valuable insights into the dynamics of social change and the potential for transformative resistance.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367333706