Can democracy and human rights really be imposed 'by fire and sword'? This is a collection of essays debating empire and international law, concerning the relationship between American imperialism, the abuse of 'humanitarian intervention' and its legal implications. Covering everything from the role of Europe and the UN, to people's tribunals, to broader accounts of the contradictions of war and human rights, the contributors offer new and innovative ways of examining the problems that we face. Contributors include Leo Panitch, Sam Gindin, Jurgen Habermas, Ulrich Preuss, Haifa Zangana, Andrew Arato, Samir Amin, Reg Whitaker, Denis Halliday and Hans von Sponeck.