Promotional Information

Bruce Ackerman's recent book, 'Revolutionary Constitutions: Charismatic Leadership and the Rule of Law' (Harvard University Press, 2019) reset the terms of debate on the most important questions in constitutionalism today and forces us to rethink some of the essential questions of our time. This edited collection is a series of essays written by leading public law academics which critically engage with Professor Ackerman's thesis.

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Global Tour of Constitutionalism Richard Albert 1. A Political, not a Legal History of the Rise of Worldwide Constitutionalism Dieter Grimm PART I THE LEGITIMATING FOUNDATIONS OF REVOLUTIONARY CONSTITUTIONALISM 2. A Defence of Non-representational Constitutionalism: Why Constitutions Need not be Representational Alon Harel 3. Constitutionalism and Society: Ackerman on Worldwide Constitution-Making and the Role of Social Forces Denis Baranger 4. Bruce Ackerman's Theory of History Roberto Gargarella 5. Constitutionalism and the Predicament of Postcolonial Independence Aziz Rana 6. Revolution on a Human Scale: Liberal Values, Populist Theory? Andrew Arato PART II CONSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTIONS AND TRANSFORMATIONS 7. Charismatic Fictions and Constitutional Politics Tom Ginsburg 8. Uncharismatic Revolutionary Constitutionalism Stephen Gardbaum 9. Unconventional Adaptation and the Authenticity of the Constitution Alessandro Ferrara 10. Constitutional Revolution, Legal Positivism and Constituent Power Yasuo Hasebe 11. The Traditions of Constitutional Change Richard Albert PART III THE FUTURE OF EUROPE 12. Constitutional Crossroads: A View from Europe Neil Walker 13. How Europe Brought Judicial Review to France: A Response to Bruce Ackerman Daniel Halberstam 14. Constituting the Judiciary, Constituting Europe Mitchel Lasser PART IV THE LAW AND POLITICS OF REVOLUTION 15. Sustaining Revolutionary Constitutions: From Movement Party to Movement Court Menaka Guruswamy 16. The Italian Constitution as a Revolutionary Agreement Marta Cartabia 17. Constitutional Strategy for a Polarised Society: Learning from Poland's Post-revolutionary Misfortunes Maciej Kisilowski 18. Choosing to Have Had a Revolution: Lessons from South Africa's Undecided Constitutionalism James Fowkes 19. The Race against Time Bruce Ackerman

About the Author

Richard Albert is William Stamps Farish Professor of Law at the University of Texas, Austin.