"Nation states are being dismantled--by supranationalism from above, by multiculturalism from below," writes Bauder (Leiden Law School, the Netherlands), who proceeds to argue that representative government, the rule of law, and the social and economic advantages of globalization can only be realized through strong, sovereign nation states and to suggest "multicultural nationalism" as a proper middle ground between multiculturalism and closed, isolated nationalism. He begins his argument by describing the nation state as being characterized by the shared loyalty of the population proceeding from a shared sense of social cohesion (nationality) and the capacity for centralized decision-making (sovereignty). He then discusses the supranationalism of such institutions as the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Security Council, and the European Union as an "assault on borders," which is matched by the tendency towards legal pluralism based on cultural or religious backgrounds and the celebration of different cultures and loyalties within the state over an emphasis on shared national identity. Finally, he proceeds to argue that these twin "assaults on borders" are inimical to the sense of overarching loyalty and centralized sovereignty required for representative government and the rule of law. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)