This is not a mere academic or philosophical quibble. Here, for example, are various reports describing recent developments affecting the “rule of law” in Egypt, Israel, Italy, USA, and Zimbabwe. This parade of horribles is not meant to be a representative sample, but it does illustrate just how difficult it is to keep politics out of law.

Image of “Consensus Civilis” courtesy of http://www.kancelaria.info.kalisz.pl