Exceptional Law

Dennis G. Molinaro is an author and researcher with a PhD in history from the University of Toronto.

• Introduction: The ExceptionChapter 1: For the Protection of People and StateChapter 2: Defining Suspects Chapter 3: The TrialChapter 4: Citizens of the WorldChapter 5: OutlawsChapter 6: Judgement Conclusion: Towards a Real State of ExceptionAppendixNotes and Bibliography

"An Exceptional Law: Section 98 & The Emergency State 1919-1936 is a very readable, incredibly well-researched study of Canada’s wartime-derived, but peacetime-continued sedition laws of early 20th century. But the book is of much more than historical interest. As they said in Battlestar Galactica: All this has happened before and will happen again. My copy is marked-up where I noted parallels to current immigration and anti-terror laws. … I highly recommend this book." - Craig Forcese (#Sundayscholar Pick, Twitter, Posted May 21, 2017) ‘A meticulously researched and well-written historical piece…. For those interested in political rights and the extent the public allows governments to determine what is and is not acceptable in the political sphere, An Exceptional Law is an excellent read.’- Michael Marschal (Saskatchewan Law Review vol 81: 2018) "Dennis Molinaro has rooted his account of Section 98 [of Canada’s Criminal Code] in the story of the liberal state’s penchant to betray liberty…His book is also an intervention in the current debate about emergency legislation in Canada."- Tom Mitchell (Labour/Le Travail Vol 81:2018) "Until now, the notorious law [Section 98 of the Criminal code], which allowed for, among other things, guilt by association, has lacked a proper study. Fortunately, a valuable examination of the legislation, the background to its creation, its impact, and its continuation at least in part even after the law’s repeal has been provided in this fascinating and well-researched account."- Steve Hewitt, University of Birmingham (The Canadian Historical Review vol. 99 no. 3, 2018) "Molinaro has produced what will become the standard analysis of one of the most infamous pieces of legislation in Canadian history."- R. Blake Brown, Saint Mary's University (American Historical Review, April 2019)