This is an impressive book. It is only once or twice in every decade that a book appears which has the potential to fundamentally change our perspective on society: this book belongs to that category.

Poul F. Kjaer, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark, Journal of Law and Society

Critical Theory of Legal Revolutions is a provocative and timely work of great importance to anyone interested in legal development, constitutionalism, the dynamics of globalization and the social conflicts that trigger and are triggered by these. Brunkhorst argues that struggles over power, prestige, and position in multiple social domains trigger legitimacy crises that have revolutionary as well as long term evolutionary effects. The thesis is demonstrated through comprehensive, systematic historical analysis that ranges from the papal revolution of the 12th century to the egalitarian world revolution of our time. This is a must read for critical social theorists in every discipline.

Jean L.Cohen, Nell and Herbert Singer Professor of Conemporary Civilization and Political Science, Columbia University, USA

Hauke Brunkhorst has resumed the work of critical social theory in a commanding style. In the tradition of Hegel, Marx, and Lukacs he seeks the objective possibilities with utopian implications, in the midst of constitutional and legal development, in his view ultimately structured by revolutions. He interprets the last legal revolution, the one in the post World War II epoch, as opening up the possibility of the complementary development of cosmopolitan and nation state identities. According to Brunkhorst it is the task of critical theory to uncover and support this new, revolutionary alternative.

Andrew Arato, Dorothy Hirshon Professor in Political and Social Theory, New School for Social Research, US

A fresh look at the social evolution of modern law since the 'papal revolution' of the 11th century. The theoretical achievement of this path-breaking is the critical synopsis of observable increases in the complexity of social systems on one side, participant's socio-cognitive and moral learning processes on the other side.

Jürgen Habermas

Hauke Brunkhorst's brilliant new book overflows with theoretical insight, historical research and enlightened political radicalism. It conceptualises how moments of freedom and equality are both preserved and universalized within constitutional revolutions and it takes issue with reductive forms of thought that only consider law's disfigurements. In his refusal to discount normative progress, Brunkhorst brings to critical legal scholarship a distinctive, bold and fresh intellect.

Robert Fine, Emeritus Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, UK