History of constitution and comparative constitutional law Books
Profile Books Ltd The Gun, the Ship and the Pen: Warfare,
Book Synopsis'If there were a Nobel Prize in History, Colley would be my nominee' Jill Lepore, New Yorker 'One of the most exciting historians of her generation, but also one of the most interesting writers of non-fiction around' - William Dalrymple, Guardian 'Colley takes you on intellectual journeys you wouldn't think to take on your own, and when you arrive you wonder that you never did it before' - David Aaronovitch, the Times 'A global history of remarkable depth, imagination and insight' Tony Barber, Financial Times Summer Books Starting not with the United States, but with the Corsican constitution of 1755, The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen moves through every continent, disrupting accepted narratives. Both monarchs and radicals play a role, from Catherine the Great of Russia, with her remarkable Nakaz, to Sierra Leone's James Africanus Horton, to Tunisia's Khayr-al-Din, a creator of the first modern Islamic constitution. Throughout, Colley demonstrates how constitutions evolved in tandem with warfare, and how they have functioned to advance empire as well as promote nations, and worked to exclude as well as liberate. Whether reinterpreting Japan's momentous 1889 constitution, or exploring the significance of the first constitution to enfranchise all adult women on Pitcairn Island in the Pacific in 1838, this is one of the most original global histories in decades.Trade ReviewA virtuoso global study of how nations were formed and constitutions written upends the familiar narrative at every turn ... As with all great history books, the big picture is here, but so is the telling detail, the astute comparison, the arresting and memorable turn of phrase, the suggestive moral for our own times. ... A superb retelling of the past, The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen will surely make us rethink our present and future -- Miles Taylor * Guardian *Dazzling ... [The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen] abounds with subtle arguments grounded in expertly marshaled sources, generously acknowledged. But perhaps the book's most impressive aspect is its mobility ... The geographic sweep and legal complexities are daunting, but Colley makes them accessible by employing a human scale. [A] bold, packed account [and] a daring revisionist move. -- Jenny Uglow * New York Review of Books *Incandescent, paradigm-shifting ... Colley has upended much of what historians believe about the origins of written constitutions ... If there were a Nobel Prize in History, Colley would be my nominee -- Jill Lepore * New Yorker *A global history of remarkable depth, imagination and insight -- Tony Barber * FT Summer Books *A wide-ranging, beautifully written global history ... Colley's narrative is rich, and she emphasizes the colorful characters who have contributed to constitution-making projects around the world ... Fascinating -- Tom Ginsburg * Washington Post *Fascinating ... Most historians emphasise literacy and liberty, seeing constitutions as the product of high-minded, slightly bloodless political salons. Colley's approach is more imaginative [with] plenty of memorably colourful details ... A different, surprising twist on international history -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *Rarely is a history so satisfyingly broad in outlook while avoiding abstraction and generalisation. It is rich, enjoyable, enlightening and imaginative. Colley takes you on intellectual journeys you wouldn't think to take on your own, and when you arrive you wonder that you never did it before -- David Aaronovitch * Times *Wildly ambitious, prodigiously researched ... The narrative ranges widely and fascinatingly across continents and prominent historical figures ... A sweeping, unique, truly world-spanning political and military history * Kirkus Reviews *A book of stupendous range and originality, The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen delivers an ambitious new account of the making of the modern world. Linda Colley has an unparalleled ability to bring together the histories of ideas, politics, and people, and to distill prodigious learning into a narrative that is at once incisively argued and an immense pleasure to read. Rippling with fresh interpretations, startling connections, and remarkable stories, this is a masterpiece of global history by one of the greatest historians working today -- Maya Jasanoff, Harvard UniversityThe purest crystallization of modern politics is the written constitution. Despite its lofty ideals, the document's many guises across the world repeatedly failed to meet their stated aspirations. Remarkable therefore are our centuries of persistent belief in constitutions. With her characteristic skill, erudition, and creativity, Linda Colley, one of our greatest historians, explains this seeming conundrum through a history of the durability of human hope, war, and political imagination. This is a monumentally important book -- Alan Mikhail, author of * God’s Shadow: Sultan Selim, His Ottoman Empire, and the Making of the Modern World *A remarkable feat of scholarship on an international scale ... Impressive -- Jonathan Sumption * Spectator *Linda Colley is a historian of her time; but she is also a completely original intelligence -- R. F. FosterIn this ambitious work, Linda Colley seeks to rethink the "long" nineteenth century through the prism of the many constitutions it produced. Written with characteristic vigor and clarity, her book shows the continued validity of "big picture" history in asking searching questions and providing unexpected answers -- Sanjay Subrahmanyam, author of * Europe’s India, Words, People, Empires, 1500–1800 *In this bold, lucid, and wide-ranging book, Linda Colley reveals the international dialogue that created our age of constitutions. She insightfully embeds the emergence of new modes of governance in the global interplay of mass literacy with mass warfare. Colley helps us understand the true origins and growing importance of constitutional government. -- Alan Taylor, author of * Thomas Jefferson's Education *A marvelous tour with a brilliant guide through world history in search of the early adopters of written constitutions --a thoroughly enjoyable read! -- Mary Bilder, author of * Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention *From the Mediterranean to Japan, a dazzling, beautifully-written and surprising tale to discover the deep connections between the transformations of modern warfare and the rise of constitutions across the globe. A must read. -- M’hamed Oualdi, Sciences Po, ParisOne of the most exciting historians of her generation, but also one of the most interesting writers of non-fiction around -- William Dalrymple * Guardian *Linda Colley, in her surprising and insightful new book, asks us to view the development of constitutionalism across the globe as part of an interlinked set of historical processes ... Examples scarcely give a full flavour of Colley's richly integrated history -- Colin Kidd * New Statesman *Reassesses the enduring connection between might and right in the creation of nations, citizens and constitutions -- Clare Mulley * Spectator Books of the Year *Written with Colley's usual erudition, insight and style ... transforms what sounds like the dry matter of paper documents into an enthralling account of how warfare, national identity and colonial exploitation follow each other in the emergence of constitutions across the world. A work of thrilling scholarship -- Joan Bakewell * New Statesman Books of the Year *
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers Magnificent Motorcycle Trips of the World 38
Book SynopsisAn urgent and necessary polemic on the government’s assault on our fundamental freedoms and the proliferation of Human Rights.Trade Review'A clear-headed and important contribution to our contemporary predicament from one of the most brilliant young political minds of our time.'Peter Oborne 'A book that could make Gordon Brown vote Tory.'Nick Cohen 'A feisty and refreshing attack on human-rights orthodoxy.'John Gray, The Independent 'Dominic Raab's lament for Britain's lost liberal democracy should reinforce the arguments of those already worried by the state of British human rights; and it should make those who dismiss these concerns think again.'John Kampfner, The Observer 'As useful a guide as you could want to the consequences of a prolonged absence of proper parliamentary oversight or opposition.'Dominic Lawson, Sunday Times 'Dominic Raab has been at the middle of the battle to defend our freedoms from these many different threats, and also brings an understanding of the international dimension to the table. He is uniquely placed to analyse the problems and propose thoughtful solutions in this book. His first class forensic analysis is likely to provoke some strong responses, but the cause of freedom is never defended without some discomfort.'Rt Hon David Davis MP 'An excellent and timely book.'Henry Porter 'An excellent book.'Timothy Garton Ash
£11.69
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc The Constitution of the United States of America
Book SynopsisWith two of the most important documents in American history, this handsome edition features both the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence.
£8.99
Taylor & Francis Ltd Stalins Constitution
Book SynopsisUpon its adoption in December 1936, Soviet leaders hailed the new so-called Stalin Constitution as the most democratic in the world. Scholars have long scoffed at this claim, noting that the mass repression of 19371938 that followed rendered it a hollow document. This study does not address these competing claims, but rather focuses on the six-month long popular discussion of the draft Constitution, which preceded its formal adoption in December 1936. Drawing on rich archival sources, this book uses the discussion of the draft 1936 Constitution to examine discourse between the central state leadership and citizens about the new Soviet social contract, which delineated the roles the state and citizens should play in developing socialism. For the central leadership, mobilizing its citizenry in a variety of state building campaigns was the main goal of the discussion of the draft Constitution. However, the goals of the central leadership at times stood in stark contrast with tTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Citizenship and a Social Contract: The Drafting of the 1936 Constitution 2. Daily Life in Kirov in the 1930s 3. Local Realities: The Implementation of the Discussion of the Draft Constitution 4. Validators of Socialist Victory: The Discussion in the Local Press 5. Popular Voices: Interpreting Citizens' Rights and Duties 6. Integration, Exclusion and Accountability 7. The Constitution, the 1937 Elections and Repression Conclusion
£128.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Sixteen Stormy Days
Book SynopsisWinner of the Ramnath Goenka Award 2020On 26th January 1950 India became a republic, shedding its last links with its colonial past and inaugurating a new era of liberty and freedom. With fundamental rights and civil liberties guaranteed by the state, the new constitution was universally acclaimed as the world's greatest experiment in liberal government'. This idealistic birth of a new republic meant a clean break with a repressive past. And yet, barely twelve months later, the very makers of the constitution were denouncing their own creation. Passed in June 1951, the First Amendment to the Constitution was a pivotal moment in Indian constitutional history. Sixteen Stormy Days explores the contentious legacy of this First Amendment which drastically curbed freedom of speech, restricted freedom against discrimination and circumscribed the right to property. It follows the sixteen days of debate that led up to it, the people that created it, the great battle waged against it andTrade Review‘A page-turner’ * Soutik Biswas, India Correspondent, BBC *‘Exhaustively researched… very readable…’ * Open Magazine *‘A compelling read’ * Firstpost *‘History written as thriller… exceptional’ * LiveMint *‘A scintillating examination of the First Amendment… Brings the legacies of Nehru and Modi uncomfortably close…’ * The Telegraph *‘Extremely well researched, beautifully written and qualitatively brilliant’ * Comparative Constitutional Law and Administrative Law Journal *‘…simply written, yet riveting account will appeal to legal and academic scholars, as well as a wide readership of interested citizens’ * South Asia Research *This riveting book highlights Nehru’s role in post-colonial India’s first constitutional crisis. Singh’s nuanced perspectives comprehensively capture the historical and legal contexts that defined the event. It is masterfully written—a book for anyone who wants to look behind the veil of the world’s largest constitutional democracy. -- Adeel Hussain, Associate Professor of Legal Studies, New York University, USAThis book is dynamite. It will shock those who take a rosy view of the Constitution and the freedoms it grants to Indian citizens. This story, so far untold, should lead to a serious re-examination of the history and contents of the Constitution. -- Lord Meghnad Desai, Emeritus Professor, London School of Economics, UKA long overdue study of the way in which the liberties guaranteed by India’s constitution were sabotaged by the very government that had promulgated it, thus returning the newly independent state to its colonial origins. -- Professor Faisal Devji, University of Oxford, UKThis blow-by-blow account of the first amendment of the Indian Constitution—arguably the most far-reaching—upends many a comforting myth about the Indian republic. Singh’s gripping account of this hitherto understudied and high-stakes political battle is at its provocative best when it challenges efforts at understanding the past through the lens of one-dimensional heroes and villains. -- Mrinalini Sinha, author of Spectres of Mother India: The Global Restructuring of an EmpireTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Build Up 2. Will the People Wait 3. The Deepening Crisis 4. The Gathering Storm 5. The Clouds Burst 6. The Battle Rages 7. The Aftermath Notes Index
£18.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Architecture of Constitutional Amendments:
Book SynopsisThis innovative book blends constitutional theory with real-life political practice to explore the impact of codifying constitutional amendments on the operation of the constitution in relation to democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. It draws from comparative, historical, political and theoretical perspectives to answer questions all constitutional designers should ask themselves: - Should the constitution append amendments sequentially to the end of the text? - Should it embed amendments directly into the existing text, with notations about what has been modified and how? - Should it instead insert amendments into the text without indicating at all that any alteration has occurred? The book examines the 3 major models of amendment codification – the appendative, the integrative, and the invisible models – and also shows how some jurisdictions have innovated alternative forms of amendment codification that combine elements of more than 1 model in a unique hybridisation driven by history, law, and politics. Constitutional designers rarely consider where in the constitution to codify amendments once they are ratified. Yet this choice is pivotal to the operation of any constitution. This groundbreaking book shows why the placement of constitutional amendments goes well beyond mere aesthetics. It influences how and whether a people remembers its past, how the constitutional text will be interpreted and by whom, and whether the constitution will be easily accessible to the governed. A global tour of the high stakes of constitution-making, this book features 18 diverse and outstanding scholars from around the world – across Africa, America, Asia and Oceania, and Europe – raising new questions, opening our eyes to new streams of research, and uncovering new possibilities for constitutional design.Table of ContentsList of Contributors Introduction: How Should Constitutions Codify Amendments?, Richard Albert (University of Texas at Austin, USA) 1. The Traces of Formalism: The Spanish Invisible Model of Constitutional Codification, Patricia García Majado (University of Oviedo, Spain) 2. The Presentist Portuguese Constitution, Catarina Santos Botelho (Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal) 3. Caught Between: On the Distinctive Character of Mexico’s Model of Amendment Codification, Jaime Olaiz-González (Universidad Panamericana Law School, Mexico) 4. The Incorporation of Amendments in Paraguayan Constitutionalism, Diego Moreno (Catholic University of Asunción, Paraguay) 5. The Codification of Constitutional Amendments in Brazil: Beyond the Appendative and Integrative Models, Bruno Santos Cunha (The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, USA) 6. The Form of Constitutional Amendments in Japan, Masahiko Kinoshita (Kobe University, Japan) 7. When Temporary Becomes Indefinite: Legitimacy, Path Dependency and Taiwan’s Hybrid Approach to Codifying Constitutional Amendment, Hui-Wen Chen (University of Warwick, UK) 8. Amendment Politics in South Korea: Invisible Constitutional Replacements in 1960 and 1962, Jeong-In Yun (Korea University, Republic of Korea) 9. Crafting Amendments During Political Upheaval: Amendment Models and Constitutional Stability in Afghanistan, Shamshad Pasarlay (Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law, Germany) 10. Codifying Secularism in the Bangladesh Constitution, Sharowat Shamin (SOAS University of London, UK) 11. The Integrative Model of Constitutional Amendment in Indonesia as a Constitutional Communication, Rosa Ristawati (Airlangga University, Indonesia), Radian Salman (Airlangga University, Indonesia) 12. The Amalgamation of Amendment Codification Models in Ethiopia: A Move towards Unwritten Constitution, Zelalem Eshetu Degifie (Wollo University, Ethiopia) 13. Amendment Codification in Switzerland: Codifying an Evolving Culture of Constitutional Pragmatism, Caspar Pfrunder (University of St. Gallen, Switzerland) 14. Between Accessibility and Oblivion: Strengths and Weaknesses of the “Invisible” Dutch Constitutional Amendment Model, Gert-Jan Leenknegt (Tilburg University, the Netherlands), Reijer Passchier (The Open University, UK, and Leidan University, the Netherlands) 15. Codification of Constitutional Amendments as a Symbol for Transitions: A Case Study from Hungary, Eszter Bodnár (ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary, and Lecturer at the University of Victoria, Canada) 16. One Constitution, Two Models of Codification: Between Trust and Distrust of Constitutional Interpretations in Albania, Arta Vorpsi (Tirana University, Albania) 17. Georgia’s Model of Constitutional Amendment Codification, Malkhaz Nakashidze (Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Georgia)
£85.50
Berghahn Books Estates and Constitution: The Parliament in
Book Synopsis Across eighteenth-century Europe, political power resided overwhelmingly with absolute monarchs, with notable exceptions including the much-studied British Parliament as well as the frequently overlooked Hungarian Diet, which placed serious constraints on royal power and broadened opportunities for political participation. Estates and Constitution provides a rich account of Hungarian politics during this period, restoring the Diet to its rightful place as one of the era’s major innovations in government. István M. Szijártó traces the religious, economic, and partisan forces that shaped the Diet, putting its historical significance in international perspective.Trade Review “The wonderful contribution of this work is exactly what it wanted to accomplish: to inspire historians to get into the archives and uncover the microhistories of many different sources of power. This book is a breath of fresh air in the study of eighteenth-century Hungarian history, and I strongly recommend it.” • Journal of Modern History “This study is packed with useful information, insights, and findings… Both student and scholar will find this rich account of Hungarian and Habsburg politics essential reading.” • International Journal of Parliamentary Studies “Szijártó’s outstanding monograph offers an admirable example of a work of scholarship on complex problems in the somewhat ‘exotic’ history of early modern East Central Europe which both conforms to the local (in this case, the Hungarian) historiographical tradition and meets the standards of the Anglophone academic world.” • Hungarian Historical Review “The Hungarian Diet has been grievously neglected in international scholarship. Szijártó’s study will completely transform that landscape. It demonstrates how and why the country's parliamentary system proved one of the most effective restraints on absolute monarchy and its centralizing policies in 18th-century Europe.” • Robert Evans, University of Oxford “This is a major work of original research on an important subject, one that is regrettably little known or examined in Anglophone scholarship.” • William D. Godsey, Austrian Academy of SciencesTable of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: The Frameworks Chapter 1. The Dualism of King and Estates Chapter 2. The Workings of the Machinery of the Diet Part II: The Structures of Politics Chapter 3. The Dualism of King and Estates Dominated by Confessional Questions Chapter 4. Taxes and Privileges Chapter 5. Government and Opposition at the Diet Chapter 6. Career Paths at the Diet Chapter 7. Realignments on the Estates’ Side of the Political Arena Part III: Interpreting Hungarian Politics in the Eighteenth Century Chapter 8. Texts and Discourse Chapter 9. County and Gentry Chapter 10. Historiographical Traditions and European Comparisons Bibliography Index
£103.50
Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft Konig Georgios I. Der Hellenen Und Die Anwendung
Book Synopsis
£24.75
HarperCollins India Liberty After Freedom: A History of Article 21,
Book SynopsisLiberty After Freedom explores the origins of what is today considered the most important fundamental right in the Indian Constitution - the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21. This is the article which in recent years made the right to privacy as well as the decriminalization of homosexuality possible. Without a doubt, Article 21 has had the most outsized influence on the progressive development of rights in India. But the story of how this important right was birthed is deeply controversial and its passage in the Constituent Assembly divided opinion like no other feature of the Constitution. Liberty After Freedom explores the intellectual beginnings of this paramount fundamental right in an attempt to decode and unravel the controversies which raged at the time the Constitution was being crafted.Written in lucid prose and drawing extensively on the Constituent Assembly debates as well as a wide array of scholarly literature, it questions long-held beliefs and sheds new and important light on the fraught history of due process and Article 21. It is an indispensable book for the legal community and for everyone interested in the genesis of the Constitution.
£17.09
