Fragile Democracies - Contested Power in the Era of Constitutional Courts

This book examines how constitutional courts can support weak democratic states in the wake of societal division and authoritarian regimes.

List of contents

Introduction: the burden of modern democracy; Part I. Militant Democracy: 1. The American paradox; 2. The boundaries of democracy; 3. Types of threats; 4. Responses to antidemocratic threats; 5. Judging militant democracy; Part II. Competitive Democracy: 6. Giving up power; 7. The promise of constitutional democracy; 8. Transition in South Africa; 9. The era of constitutional courts; 10. The constitutional bargain; 11. Can law protect democracy?; 12. Constitutionalism in the time of fragile democracies; Epilogue: democratic objectives.

About the author

Samuel Issacharoff is the Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law. A pioneer in the field of law of the political process, he is the author of more than 100 articles, books, and other academic works, including the seminal The Law of Democracy, 4th edition (with Pamela S. Karlan and Richard H. Pildes, 2012). Issacharoff is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Summary

This book examines how constitutional courts protect fragile democratic states arising in the wake of authoritarian rule or amidst deep societal divisions of race, religion, or national background. It covers challenges to East Asian, African, and former Soviet democracies, as well as new developments from the Arab Spring.

Product details

• Authors: Samuel Issacharoff, Samuel (New York University) Issacharoff, Issacharoff Samuel
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 11.06.2015
• EAN: 9781107654549
• ISBN: 978-1-107-65454-9
• No. of pages: 312
• Series: Cambridge Studies in Election Law and Democracy; Cambridge Studies in Election; Cambridge Studies in Election Law and Democracy
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Law > International law, foreign law; LAW / Comparative, comparative law, Election law