An Inquiry into the Existence of Global Values: Through the Lens of Comparative Constitutional Law

✍ Scribed by Dennis Davis; Alan Richter; Cheryl Saunders (editors)

• Publisher: Hart Publishing
• Year: 2015
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 512
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The world appears to be globalizing economically, technologically, and even, to a halting extent, politically. This process of globalization raises the possibility of an international legal framework, a possibility which has gained pressing relevance in the wake of the recent global economic crisis. But, for any international legal framework to exist, normative agreement between countries – with very differing political, economic, cultural, and legal traditions – becomes necessary. This book explores the possibility of such a normative agreement through the prism of national constitutional norms. Since 1945, more than a hundred countries have adopted constitutional texts which incorporate, at least in part, a Bill of Rights. These texts reveal significant similarities, which are examined in the book. From these national studies, the book analyzes the rise of constitutionalism since World War II and charts the possibility of a consensus of values which might plausibly underpin an effective and legitimate international legal order.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half-title
Title
Copyright
Contents
List of Contributors
1. Introduction
I. Outline of Project
II. Comparative Law and Constitutionalism
III. Constitutional Systems—Convergence and Particularism
IV. Identifying Constitutional Systems for Comparison
V. Defining Values
2. Values in Australian Constitutionalism
I. The Australian Dilemma
II. The Australian Context: Meaning and Sources of ‘Values’
III. Which Values?
A. Review of Listed Values
i. Justice/Fairness
ii. Equality
iii. Community
iv. Freedom/Independence
v. Responsibility/Accountability and Integrity/Honesty
vi. Respect/Tolerance
vii. Participation/Inclusion
viii. Security
ix. Life
x. Dignity
xi. Compassion/Caring
xii. Family
xiii. Environment
B. Priority of Values
IV. Congruence
3. Global Values and Local Realities: Brazilian Constitutional Law
I. Values in Brazilian Constitutional History
II. Finding Values in Constitutional Law
A. Legal Infrastructure and Legal Culture
B. Values in the Constitutional Text and Jurisprudence
i. The Constitutional (Value) Architecture
ii. Jurisprudence
III. Conclusion: Values Between Constitutional Ideal and Reality
4. Canada
I. Context: Historical Background and Pre-Charter Values
II. Values and their Prioritisation
A. The Normative Framework
B. The Court and Nationhood: Respecting Diversity
C. Language
D. Individual Protection
E. Democracy and Rights
F. Dignity: the Core Value
G. Expression
H. Political Rights
I. Rights to Life
J. Death Penalty
K. Liberty
L. Equality
III. Congruence and Incongruence
A. A Particular Canadian Solution
5. Constitutions and Values in Three Chinese Societies
I. Introduction
II. Historical and Ideological Contexts
A. The ROC Constitution
B. The PRC Constitution
C. The Basic Law of the HKSAR
III. The Political Systems Concerned
A. Taiwan
B. The PRC
C. The HKSAR
IV. Values in the Three Constitutional Texts
A. Life
B. Dignity
C. Security
D. Freedom (or Liberty)
E. Privacy
F. Equality
G. Justice and Fairness
H. Respect and Tolerance
I. Family
J. Work
K. Property
L. Community
M. Compassion and Solidarity
N. Education
O. Environment
P. Peace
Q. Responsibility and Accountability
R. Participation
S. Honesty and Integrity
V. Prioritisation and Congruence
A. Prioritisation of Values in the Constitutional Texts
B. Congruence Between Constitutionally Proclaimed Values and Social and Political Reality
VI. Conclusion
6. Human Dignity, Individual Rights and Equality: The Core Values of the Finnish Constitutional Act
I. Introduction
A. Constitutional Processes at the Gaining of Independence 1809–1917
B. The Development of Finnish Constitutionalism 1917–90
C. The Reformed Finnish Constitution 1995–2000
II. Explicit and Implicit Cultural Values of the Finnish Constitutional Act
A. Human Dignity, Democracy and Rule of Law
B. Equality and Equity
C. Justice and Freedom
D. Inclusion and Community
E. Peace, Life, Integrity and Security
F. Compassion and Environment
III. Law in Action—Do the Values Expressed in the Text Conform with Reality?
A. Supervision of the Compliance with the Constitution
B. Challenges of the Present Practice of National Basic and Human Rights Policies
C. Equality Provisions in Action
D. More to be Done on Inclusion
IV. Conclusion
7. Constitutional and Legal Framework for Rights Protection in France
I. Sources
II. The Terms ‘Values’ and ‘Principles’
III. Values
A. Values Mentioned in Constitutional Documents in Terms Identical or Analogous to those of the List
B. Values that Relate or are Comparable to some of the List, Although Formulated in Different Words
C. Values that Never Appear either in Fundamental Documents or in Court Interpretations
D. Values which are not on the List, but are Mentioned Very Frequently in Constitutional Documents
IV. Prioritisation
V. Congruence
8. Values in German Constitutional Law
I. Constitutions and Values
II. Values in the German Constitution
A. General Survey
III. Values in the Basic Law
IV. Understanding the Text
V. Prioritisation
VI. Congruence
9. Crafting Constitutional Values: An Examination of the Supreme Court of India
I. The Constitution of India, 1950
A. The Power of the Supreme Court Under the Constitution
B. The Emergence of the Supreme Court as a Value Crafter
II. Constitutions, Values and the People
A. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution—Values of We the People:
III. Fundamental Rights
A. The Directive Principles of State Policy
B. The Right to Life: A Right that Encompasses All
C. Right to Education
D. Family/Community
E. Freedom/Independence
F. Sustainable Development/Environment
G. Tolerance and Education/Spirituality
H. Justice
I. Democracy
J. Secularism
IV. Prioritisation
A. Prioritisation: Creation of the Basic Structure Doctrine by the Supreme Court
B. The Content of this ‘Basic Structure’ was Considered and Crafted on a Case-by-Case Basis
C. Prioritisation: Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights
i. The Literal Approach
ii. Harmonious Construction
iii. Equally Important—the Balancing Act
V. Conclusion
10. Values in Iranian Constitutional Law
I. Context of Iranian Constitutional Values
A. Constitutions and Values
B. Historical Context
C. Religious Context
D. Political Context
II. Values and their Prioritisation
A. Values Contained in the Constitution
i. Fairness, Justice
ii. Freedom, Independence
iii. Community, Family
iv. Responsibility, Accountability
v. Integrity, Honesty
vi. Compassion, Caring
vii. Respect, Tolerance
viii. Reverence for Life
ix. Spirituality
x. Learning, Education
B. Understanding these Values Conceptually
C. Realising these Values—The Balance of Powers System
D. ‘Human Rights’ in the Constitution?
III. Congruence and Priorities?
11. Global Values and Local Realities: The Case of Israeli Constitutional Law
I. Introduction: Values in Israeli Constitutional Law
II. Sources of Values
A. The First Channel for Values: 1948–92
B. The Second Channel for Values: Since 1992
III. Examining Values
A. Declaration of Independence
B. Basic Laws
C. Case Law
i. Human Dignity
ii. Fairness
iii. Equality
iv. Freedom
v. Tolerance
vi. Respect for Life
vii. Accountability and Integrity
viii. Education
ix. Family
D. The Elephant in the Room: A Jewish Democratic State—Questions of Community, Participation and Inclusion
E. The Elephant Outside: The Occupation and the Role of the Security Discourse
IV. Conclusion: Global Values in a Local Context
12. Japan
I. Context
II. Values in the Constitution of Japan
A. Fairness/Justice
B. Equality
C. Honesty/Integrity
D. Community
E. Family
F. Freedom/Liberty/Independence
G. Responsibility/Accountability
H. Compassion/Caring
I. Respect/Tolerance
J. Life
K. Security
L. Learning/Education
M. Dignity
N. Environment
O. Participation/Inclusion
P. Peace
III. Congruence
A. Judicial Review: Gap Between Text and Law
B. Constitutional Pacifism: Gap Between Value and Reality
IV. Conclusion
13. Values in the South African Constitution
I. Introduction
II. Values
A. Values in the South African Constitution
B. Value Hierarchies?
III. The ‘Universal List’ of Values
A. Dignity
B. Equality
C. Freedom/Independence/Liberty
D. Responsibility/Accountability
E. Participation/Inclusion
F. Life
G. Community
H. Fairness/Justice
I. Family
J. Integrity/Honesty
K. Compassion/Caring
L. Respect/Tolerance
M. Security
N. Learning/Education
O. Environment
IV. Values, Transformation and Courts
14. Values in the UK Constitution
I. Introduction and Context
II. The Presumption of Liberty
III. The Primacy of Representative Government (or Sovereignty of Parliament)
IV. Commitment to the Rule of Law
V. The Resolution of Conflict Between the Presumption of Liberty, the Rule of Law and the Sovereignty of Parliament
VI. The ‘Secondary’ Constitutional Values and Their Impact on Public and Private Law
A. Respect for Individual Autonomy
B. Respect for Human Dignity
C. Equality
D. Tolerance
E. Transparency, Openness and Political Accountability
F. Effective Governance
G. Latent Values
VII. Conclusion—The Gap Between Values and Reality
15. Global Constitutional Values in the United States
I. Introduction
II. Founding Values
A. Freedom/Independence
i. Constitutional Incongruence
B. Equality
i. Constitutional Incongruence
ii. Prioritisation
III. Free Speech/Expression
i. Prioritisation and Congruence
IV. Freedom of Religious Exercise
i. Prioritisation and Congruence
V. Of Liberty and Due Process
i. Prioritisation and Congruence
VI. Privacy
i. Prioritisation and Congruence
ii. Congruence
VII. The Evolution of Freedom in the Modern State
i. Prioritisation and Congruence
A. The Debate Over Freedom of Contract
i. Prioritisation and Congruence
VIII. Conclusion
16. Global Values in the Venezuelan Constitution: Some Prioritisations and Several Incongruences
I. Introduction and Constitutional Background
II. Constitutional Values and their Prioritisation
A. Human Dignity
B. Fairness/Justice/Rule of Law/State of Justice
C. Equality/Respect/Tolerance/Diversity/ Multiculturalism
D. Democracy/Participation/Decentralisation/ Inclusion
E. Compassion/Caring/Solidarity/Social Justice/ Social State
F. Community/Civil Society
G. Family
H. Life
I. Learning/Education
J. Honesty/Integrity
K. Freedom/Liberty/Independence
L. Security
M. Responsibility/Accountability/Transparency
N. Environment
III. The Incongruences between Declared Values and Political and Judicial Practice
A. Subjection of the Superior Values of the Constitution to its ‘Political Project’ and the Rejection of the Supra-Constitutional Rank of International Instruments on Human Rights
B. The Erosion of Public Participation in Political Decision Making
C. The Erosion of the Democratic Principle
D. The Contradictory State Intervention in the Internal Life of Civil Society Entities
E. The Dangerous Expansion of Security and Defence Values
IV. Conclusion
17. Conclusion
I. The Ambiguities: A Critical Assessment
A. Freedom/Independence
B. Family/Community
C. Respect/Tolerance
D. Democracy
II. Prioritisation of Ascribed Meanings
III. Congruence
A. The Relationship Between Theory and Practice
i. Australia
ii. Brazil
iii. Canada
iv. China
v. Finland
vi. France
vii. Germany
viii. India
ix. Iran
x. Israel
xi. Japan
xii. South Africa
xiii. United Kingdom
xiv. United States
xv. Venezuela
IV. Where Does this Leave this Project?
V. The Impartial Spectator
VI. The Implications Which Flow From This Study
VII. Annexure: Law and Versteeg (2011)
Index