A masterly summary of the history of Western political philosophy, political science and constitutional law introduces a profound and disquieting analysis of the modern territorial state. Isn’t ‘democracy’ in a heterogeneous society with a numerically dominant group necessarily synonymous with the oppression of minorities? Can human rights and the courts sufficiently protect the uniquely distinctive character of minorities? Prof Malan presents his partial solution of ‘habitative communities’ – voluntary groupings of like-minded persons that can be formed on various bases – by no means in a prescriptive manner, but as a thought-provoking contribution that will give rise to serious reflection and debate in both academia and political practice.