The Challenges of Democracy: And The Rule of Law

A TIMES LAW TOP LEGAL READ 2025

'A timely red alert that democratic values cannot be taken for granted' — The Times
'Incisive and eloquent' — The Telegraph

Across the globe, democracy is in crisis. In the UK alone, it has been rocked by:

• Brexit
• The pandemic
• Successive attempts by governments to bypass legal norms

But how did this happen, and where might we go from here?

Jonathan Sumption cuts through the political noise with acute analysis of the state of democracy today. This work explores:

• The vulnerabilities of international law
• The deepening suppression of democracy activism in Hong Kong
• The complexities of human rights legislation
• The defence of freedom of speech

Wholly original, Challenges of Democracy applies the brilliance of 'the cleverest man in Britain' to the most urgent and far-reaching political issue of our day.