Title
Making constitutions in deeply divided societies [electronic resource] / Hanna Lerner.
ISBN
9781139101677 electronic book
1139101676 electronic book
9781107005150
1107005159
Publication Details
Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2011.
Language
English
Description
1 online resource (ix, 262 p.)
Item Number
9786613341891
Call Number
K3165 .L445 2011eb
Dewey Decimal Classification
342.02
Summary
"How can societies still grappling over the common values and shared vision of their state draft a democratic constitution? This is the central puzzle of Making Constitutions in Deeply Divided Societies. While most theories discuss constitution-making in the context of a moment of revolutionary change, Hanna Lerner argues that an incrementalist approach to constitution-making can enable societies riven by deep internal disagreements to either enact a written constitution or function with an unwritten one. She illustrates the process of constitution-writing in three deeply divided societies - Israel, India and Ireland - and explores the various incrementalist strategies deployed by their drafters. These include the avoidance of clear decisions, the use of ambivalent legal language and the inclusion of contrasting provisions in the constitution. Such techniques allow the deferral of controversial choices regarding the foundational aspects of the polity to future political institutions, thus enabling the constitution to reflect a divided identity"-- Provided by publisher.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-257) and index.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
Source of Description
Description based on print version record.
Introduction
PART I : CONSTITUTIONS, DEMOCRACY, IDENTITY: Three paradigms of democratic constitutions
The incrementalist approach to constitution-making
PART II : VARIETIES OF CONSTITUTIONAL INCREMENTALISM: Informal consociationalism in Israel
Constructive ambiguity in India
Symbolic ambivalence in Ireland
PART III : ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST CONSTITUTIONAL INCREMENTALISM: Normative arguments for constitutional incrementalism
Potential dangers
Conclusion.
