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Focusing on the Arab Spring, this book examines the role of new constitutions in facilitating democratic transitions. Emphasizing the role of civil society in shaping and steering constitutional debates, Tofigh Maboudi argues that pathways to democracy are more likely to open when constitutions succeed in resolving societal and political ills.
List of contents
1. Constitutions, civil society, and democratization in the Arab world; 2. Democratizing the parchments: the impact of process on the democratic content of constitutions; 3. Constitutional negotiations and the pathway to democratic transition: The case of Tunisia; 4. Pathways of Failure: the importance of the process; 5. Pathways of failure: the importance of civil society; 6. Pathways of failure: the importance of constitutional design; 7. Lessons from the 'Fall' of the Arab Spring.
About the author
Tofigh Maboudi is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Loyola University Chicago, who has studied Arab constitutions and constitutionalism for over a decade. Maboudi's research focuses on comparative constitutional studies, democratization, authoritarianism, and Middle East politics. His research has appeared in several journals including The American Political Science Review, Comparative Political Studies, and Political Research Quarterly. He is the co-author of Constituents before Assembly: Participation, Deliberation, and Representation in the Worldwide Crafting of New Constitutions (2017). Professor Maboudi has been a Visiting Scholar at the American Bar Foundation.
Summary
Focusing on the Arab Spring, this book examines the role of new constitutions in facilitating democratic transitions. Emphasizing the role of civil society in shaping and steering constitutional debates, Tofigh Maboudi argues that pathways to democracy are more likely to open when constitutions succeed in resolving societal and political ills.
Additional text
'A democratic constitution is increasingly understood not only as one that provides for democratic structures but also one that is written democratically. But what does that mean, especially in places where the rules of democratic politics themselves are up for debate? Drawing on extensive empirical research, Tofigh Maboudi probes how civil society should best be included—and he bases his inquiry not simply by showing what can go right but also by probing what can go wrong. The resulting work provides richness and rigor to a burgeoning field.' Nathan J. Brown, Professor, George Washington University and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
