"The Origins of 'The Rule of Law'" — Jeremy Kessler converses with Matthew Dimick, Paul Linden-Retek, and Matthew Steilen (Part 1)

Episode 47 of The Baldy Center Podcast features Jeremy Kessler in conversation with Matthew Dimick, Paul Linden-Retek, and Matthew Steilen. They discuss Kessler’s paper, “The Origins of ‘The Rule of Law,’” delving into early 17th-century England and tracing the conceptual shift of “rule of law” from procedural common law usage to a broader theory of political governance. In Part One, they discuss how legal language, economic change, and historical interpretation intersect to shape legal ideologies still relevant today. In Part Two they dive deeper into legal theory, the tensions between classical liberalism and reform, the autonomy of law and the state, and materialist approaches to understanding legal history. This two-part episode presents a rigorous analysis of foundational questions about how the rule of law persists and evolves within capitalist systems. For transcription, please visit: Baldy Center Podcast Episode 47 Part 1