Zizek on Law

This essay outlines the theory of lawin the work of Slavoj Zizek. Zizek proceedsfrom the premise that law is internally,constitutively divided. Law is split betweenthe external social law and the obscenesuperego supplement. Superego is thenecessary, unavoidable underside of the sociallaws that hold together the community.Nevertheless, law can serve potentiallyliberatory ends. It can work as a repositoryfor aspirations for something better. Thus, thearticle argues that for Zizek what is beyondlaw inheres in law as a kind of faith. Theadvantage of Zizek's approach to law thus restsin the way it addresses the crime of law whileholding onto the hope animating law.