This collection of incisive papers looks back on a decade of political, social and legal transformation in South Africa. Over this decade many changes and shifts occurred. Of these the shifts from authoritarianism to democracy; from white minority rule to representative government; from parliamentary sovereignty to constitutional supremacy; and from common law jurisprudence to 'transformative constitutionalism' are the most prominent. The thought and theory of Hannah Arendt serves as an inspiration for many of the arguments raised.It discusses the tension between public and private and between equality and dignity; the notions of sovereignty; aesthetics; action and revolt. A concern shared by all contributors is the importance of the political, its demise under the onslaught of liberalism, pragmatism, globalisation and capitalism and critical ways of rethinking it.