Asia-Pacific Constitutional Systems

by Graham Hassall, Cheryl Saunders

Overview

This book analyzes the formal constitutional changes that have recently taken place in the Asia-Pacific region, embracing the countries of East and South East Asia and the Pacific Island states. In examining the different constitutional systems in the region, it asks several key questions: What constitutional arrangements operate in the region and how can their fundamental differences be explained? How do social, political and economic factors limit the effectiveness of the existing constitution? What lessons are gained for the practice of constitutionalism elsewhere?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521591294
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/07/2002
Series:	Cambridge Asia-Pacific Studies
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Graham Hassall is widely published in Pacific Studies and is an expert on the states of Micronesia in particular. He was Research Fellow and Director of the Asia-Pacific program of teaching and research in the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at the University of Melbourne Law School, and is currently the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Landegg International University, Switzerland.

Cheryl Saunders is one of Australia's leading scholars in the fields of comparative and international law. She is the Director of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at the University of Melbourne. She has been an adviser to many governments in the region on the question of constitutional development and reform.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Map: the Asia-Pacific region; Introduction; Part I. Modernity and Nation-States at the Dawn of the Global Era: 1. Traditional states and colonisation; 2. The modern constitution; 3. Writing the constitution; Part II. The Constitution of Modernity: 4. The legislature; 5. Representation; 6. Head of state; 7. Constitutional revision; Part III. Democracy and the Rule of Law: 8. Courts and the judiciary; 9. The suspension of constitutional power; 10. Devolution; Conclusion: postmodernity and constitutionalism; Appendix: chronology of constitutional events in the Asia Pacific; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'In this very interesting book, the authors investigate the various forms that constitutional arrangements assume in the Asia-Pacific … the highly useful appendix … and the comprehensive bibliography also contribute to make the book a precious reference work for students and researchers in, and out of, the field of Asian Studies. But the most relevant contribution is methodological and consists of the authors clearly stressing he fact that there is little insight to be gained from the mere juxtaposition of legal principles and institutions without taking into account the historical, philosophical and human circumstances to which they respond and which affect their operation and significance. This multidisciplinary and contextual approach is just what is needed to investigate any kind of social phenomena across cultures.' Political Studies Review

From the Publisher