The essays in this volume take on the challenge of explaining the current formation of the relation between sovereignty, law and violence in what is termed 'Democracy's Empire'. * Contains a situated discussion of the institution of democracy and related juridico-political problems * Examines the historical and philosophical legacies which inform Democracy's Empire - such as the Roman Republic, the separation between Church and State in the enlightenment, formations of revolutionary violence, and the relation between norm and exception * Poses the problem of violence and death at the heart of the institution of democracy including examples such as South Africa and Iraq * Offers a mixture of historical and philosophical treatment of democracy as a juridical problem of constitutional violence