ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a working definition of the essential elements of hybridity discourse. The theory and practice of hybrid processes is found in various disciplines, such as plant biology, animal species and anthropology, and has now demonstrated a significant tributary within political science theory and in particular the investigations into the formulation and manifestation of sovereign power. The chapter concerns Jacques Derrida/Elisabeth Roudinesco dialogue to frame the debate over the 'public enemy' and investigates whether, with the illumination of hybridity studies, the classical theory of sovereignty can now appropriately maintain the death penalty for such criminal protagonists, as they are labelled by states. Through the weaving together of the different aspects of the European abolitionist strategy and receiving multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary contributions, the Working Group established four 'key elements' which can be viewed as woven together within a hybridisation process: they are coherence and consistency; cooperation; education and awareness raising; and efficiency and effectiveness.
