'No one but Hurst could have written this book. His close study of variation across and within two giant countries generates theoretical insights that go well beyond China and Indonesia, though scholars of each country will also profit. A monumental achievement and a major advance in socio-legal studies.' Tom Ginsburg, University of Chicago Law School
'Ruling Before the Law brings a fresh and stimulating perspective to the study of legal systems. The author rejects the dominant Rule of Law framework, in which China is understood as either having or not having the Rule of Law, or as somewhere along a Rule of Law continuum. Instead, he uses a political science perspective to posit a different way to understand the relevant characteristics of a legal regime, allowing us to understand better how and in what specific respects national legal systems either resemble or differ from each other.' Donald Clarke, George Washington University Law School
'... the book aims to bring a new perspective to the study of law and society and judicial politics ...' Wang Jiangyu, Comparative Politics