The Rule of Dons

“Rivke Jaffe’s brilliant book opens windows onto the question of political legitimacy within a postcolonial context where many urban denizens have been excluded from formal political processes or mobilized as mercenaries within a partisan system. Though grounded in the realities of Jamaica, Jaffe’s insights regarding sovereignty, informality, and the power of populism stretch far beyond the region and its long histories of imperialism and plantation-based slavery. The Rule of Dons is a must-read for anyone probing the possibilities of political life, now and in the future.” - Deborah A. Thomas, author of Political Life in the Wake of the Plantation: Sovereignty, Witnessing, Repair

“The Rule of Dons offers valuable insights into the intricate processes through which authority is legitimized and outlines how geographies of power are formed. By emphasizing the importance of spatial relations of power and influence in the performance and recognition of authority, Rivke Jaffe provides a thought-provoking exploration of these concepts and their relevance in understanding dynamics of power in urban contexts well beyond the Caribbean.” - Jovan Scott Lewis, author of Scammer’s Yard: The Crime of Black Repair in Jamaica

"Jaffe, an intrepid ethnographer, offers a compelling, radical perspective on street gangs in Kingston, Jamaica." - Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs