For decades, dating back to the 1980s and accelerating greatly after the fall of the Iron Curtain, the rule of law was a central thrust of America’s and other wealthy nations’ aid to poorer countries. U.S. judges, lawyers, consulting firms, think tanks, foundations and nonprofits spent tens of billions of dollars and countless hours seeking to teach, preach and learn how to promote the concept in Asia, Africa, the former Soviet Union and elsewhere.
The term can mean many things. But above all, the rule of law means this: No one is above the law.
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