QUAERERE VERUM: CONSTITUTIONAL VALUES AND POLITICAL TRADITIONS

Price 999 Rub.

Authors: Angelika Nussberger, Sergey Belov

VALUES OF NON-WESTERN POLITICAL TRADITIONS
Sergey Belov

DOI: 10.21128/1812-7126-2024-2-73-88

Keywords: constitutionalism; constitution; individual rights; constitutional identity; globalization; Buddhism; Islam; Confucianism; ubuntu

Abstract

In recent years, constitutional law theory has moved from the formal analysis of constitutional practice to evaluating the substantive realization of basic constitutional principles. Along the way, scholars have developed the concept of constitutionalism, based on Western liberal values and purported to be universally and exclusively correct. As a result, the concept of constitution in substantive meaning has narrowed: “true” constitutionalism demands the fulfillment of all constitutional principles and a constitutional system is branded as “imitative” if it falls short. Meanwhile, most principles such as separation of powers, rule of law, and constitutional review are to some extent instrumental, as they have to serve the main value of constitutionalism — limitation of state power to prevent abuse and arbitrariness. While some experts believe that constitutionalism is the only way to achieve this goal, in fact there are alternative ways beyond the liberal model. The article presents ideas and concepts rooted in non-Western polities and manifested today predominantly in political concepts of Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, as well as in certain political institutions that still persist in African polities, dating back to pre-colonial times. By comparing these with Western liberal constitutionalism, the author concludes that these concepts could serve as viable alternatives to liberal constitutionalism, thus allowing for an expansion of the scope of the very notion of the constitution. This is an extremely topical issue in the current movement for protection of national cultures in the context of re-globalization. Non-Western traditions propose a departure from the opposition between the individual and the state, advocating instead for the pursuit of harmony and the common good. Rather than relying on a rationally constructed system of political institutions designed to restrain the powers of state officials, these traditions emphasize adherence to political traditions, religious dogma and political virtue, with the wellness of humans intertwined with their integration into different social communities. These approaches require a reexamination of many provisions within political and social theory and underscore the importance of taking the equality of political traditions and cultures seriously.

About the author:  Sergey Belov — Candidate of Sciences (Ph.D.) in Law, Professor, Head of the Constitutional Law Department, Dean of the Law Faculty, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia .

Citation: Belov S. (2023) Tsennosti nezapadnykh politicheskikh traditsiy [Values of Non-Western political traditions]. Sravnitel'noe konstitutsionnoe obozrenie, vol.33, no.2, pp.73–88. (In Russian).

References:

Ackerman B. (1997) The Rise of World Constitutionalism. Virginia Law Review, vol.83, no.4, pp.771–797.

Belov S.A. (2016) Ratsional'nost' sudebnoy balansirovki konstitutsionnykh tsennostei s pomoshch'yu testa na proportsional'nost' [Rationality of judicial balancing of constitutional values with help of proportionality test]. Peterburgskiy yurist, no.1, pp.63–75. (In Russian).

Bui N.S. (2012) Confucian Constitutionalism: Classical Foundations. Australian Journal of Legal Philosophy, vol.37, pp.61–98.

Bui N.S., Hargreaves S., Mitchell R. (eds.) (2023) Routledge Handbook of Constitutional Law in Greater China, Abingdon; New York: Routledge.

Chen A. (ed.) (2014) Constitutionalism in Asia in the Early Twenty-First Century, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Chizhikov V., Usachev A. (2006) 333 kota: sbornik stikhov [333 cats: a collection of poems], Moscow: Egmont. (In Russian).

Dixon R., Landau D. (2021) Abusive Constitutional Borrowing: Legal Globalization and the Subversion of Liberal Democracy, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Dowdle M.W., Wilkinson M.A. (2017) Constitutionalism Beyond Liberalism, Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press.

Drinoczi T., Bień-Kacała A. (2022) Illiberal Constitutionalism in Poland and Hungary: The Deterioration of Democracy, Misuse of Human Rights and Abuse of the Rule of Law, Abingdon; New York: Routledge.

Friedrich C.J. (1950) Constitutional Government and Democracy, Boston, MA: Ginn and Company.

Gebeye B.A. (2021) A Theory of African Constitutionalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Grote R., Röder T.J. (eds.) (2012) Constitutionalism in Islamic Countries: Between Upheaval and Continuity, New York: Oxford University Press.

Hatchard J., Ndulo M., Slinn P. (2004) Comparative Constitutionalism and Good Governance in the Commonwealth: An Eastern and Southern African Perspective, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Holmes S. (1988) Precommitment and the Paradox of Democracy. In: Elster J., Slagstad R. (eds.) Constitutionalism and Democracy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; Oslo: Norwegian University Press, pp.195–240.

Lê H.Đ. (2022) Konstitutsionalizm: vostochnoaziatskaya perspektiva [Constitutionalism: an East Asian perspective]. In: Vasilieva T.A., Varlamova N.V. (eds.) Konstitutsionalism: universal'noe i natsional'noe izmereniya [Constitutionalism: universal and national dimensions], Moscow: Institut gosudarstva i prava RAN. (In Russian).

Li-ann T. (2021) Varieties of Constitutionalism in Asia. Asian Journal of Comparative Law, vol.16, no.2, pp.1–26.

MacIntyre A. (1999) Dependent Rational Animals: Why Human Beings Need the Virtues, Chicago, IL; La Salle, IL: Open Court.

McIlwain C.H. (1939) Constitutionalism and the Changing World, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Yusuf M.S.M. (2008) Prava cheloveka v islame [Human rights in Islam], Saint Petersburg: Dilya. (In Russian).

Oakeshott M. (2002) Ratsionalism v politike i drugie stat’i [Rationalism in politics and other essays], I.Myurberg et al. (transl.), L.Makeeva et al. (eds.), Moscow: Ideya-Press. (In Russian).

Perry E.J. (2008) Chinese Conceptions of “Rights”: From Mencius to Mao — and Now. Perspectives on Politics, vol.6, no.1, pp.37–50.

Rosenfeld M. (2012) Constitutional Identity. In: Rosenfeld M., Sajó A. (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Constitutional Law, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.756–776.

Syukiyaynen L.R. (2021) Otnoshenie k konstitutsii sovremennoy islamskoy pravovoy mysli [Attitude to the constitution of modern Islamic legal thought]. In: Vasilieva T.A., Varlamova N.V. (eds.) Konstitutsiya i prava cheloveka: sovremennaya doktrina i praktika [Constitution and human rights: contemporary doctrine and practice], Moscow: Institut gosudarstva i prava RAN. (In Russian).

Tshoose C.I. (2009) The Emerging Role of the Constitutional Value of Ubuntu for Informal Social Security in South Africa. African Journal of Legal Studies, vol.3, no.1, pp.12–19.

Tushnet M. (2015) Authoritarian Constitutionalism. Cornell Law Review, vol.100, no.2, pp.391–462.

Tushnet M. (2016) Editorial. International Journal of Constitutional Law, vol.14, no.1, pp.1–5.

Welikala A. (2022) Theorising Constitutionalism in Buddhist-Dominant Asian Polities. In: Ginsburg T., Schonthal B. (eds.) Buddhism and Comparative Constitutional Law, Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, pp.57–70.

FAREWELL TO UNIVERSALIST CONSTITUTIONAL CONCEPTS?
ESSAY IN RESPONSE TO SERGEI BELOV’S ARTICLE
Angelika Nussberger

DOI:  10.21128/1812-7126-2024-2-89-101

Keywords: constitutionalism; legal culture; abuse of power; universalism

Abstract

While there is a world-wide consensus on the need of defining basic principles of State organisation and values in constitutions, there are divergent views about the necessity of including basic elements such as separation of powers, human rights, rule of law and democracy. Sergii Belov argues that arbitrariness and oppression can be prevented by traditions and customs, religious dogmas, and good will — as has, in his view, been shown by non-Western States. He therefore supports the idea of a new “non-Western” constitutionalism. In response to his article it is explained that soft means, such as traditions and good will, are not adequate and effective in preventing abuse of power. It is true that common values are essential for the development of State and society, but they do not replace, but rather come in addition to separation of powers, rule of law, democracy, and human rights. Furthermore, a division between “Western” and “non-Western” States is an oversimplified and not adequate categorization of the different constitutional systems worldwide.

About the author:  Angelika Nussberger — Professor at the University of Cologne, Director of the Academy of European Human Rights Protection, Member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, former Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights, Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cologne, Germany

Citation: Nussberger A. (2024) Proshchanie s universal'nymi konstitutsionno-pravovymi kontseptsiyami?: Otvet na stat'yu Sergeya Belova [Farewell to universalist constitutional concepts?: Essay in response to Sergei Belov’s article] Sravnitel'noe konstitutsionnoe obozrenie, vol.33, no.2, pp.89–101. (In Russian).

Translation from English - Danila Mamaev.

References:

Belov S. (2023) Tsennosti nezapadnykh politicheskikh traditsiy [Values of Non-Western political traditions]. Sravnitel'noe konstitutsionnoe obozrenie, vol.33, no.2, pp.73–88. (In Russian).

Böckenförde E.-W. (2006) Recht, Staat, Freiheit, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp.

Brecht A. (1937) The New Russian Constitution. Social Research, vol.4, no.2, pp.157–190.

Buratti A. (2023) Western Constitutionalism: History, Institutions, Comparative Law, New York: Springer.

Chen A.H.Y. (2022) Constitutions and Constitutionalism: China. In: Law D.S. (ed.) Constitutionalism in Context, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp.61–86.

Diamond L., Plattner M.F. (eds.) (1996) The Global Resurgence of Democracy, Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Diamond L., Plattner M.F. (eds.) (2016) Democracy in Decline? Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Diamond L., Plattner M.F., Walker C. (eds.) (2016) Authoritarianism Goes Global: The Challenge to Democracy, Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Fukuyama F. (2015) Why is Democracy Performing so Poorly? Journal of Democracy, vol.26, no.1, pp.11–20.

Glendon M.A. (2002) A World Made New: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks.

Grimm D. (2016) Constitutionalism: Past, Present, and Future, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Huntington S.P. (1991) The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century, Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

Jellinek G. (1919) System der subjektiven öffentlichen Rechte, Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.

Jones C.P.A. (2023) The Annotated Constitution of Japan: A Handbook, Introduction: Historical Overview, Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

Kant I. (1784) Beantwortung der Frage: Was ist Aufklärung? Berlinische Monatsschrift, no.12, pp.481–494.

Klug H. (2020) Transformative Constitutionalism as a Model for Africa? In: Dann P., Riegner M., Bönnemann M. The Global South and Comparative Constitutional Law, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.141–164.

Krastev I., Holmes S. (2019) The Light that Failed: A Reckoning, London: Allen Lane.

Kumm M., Havercroft J., Dunoff J., Wiener A. (2017) The End of “the West” and the Future of Global Constitutionalism. Global Constitutionalism, vol.6, no.1, pp.1–11.

Lang, Jr. A.F. (2021) Global Constitutionalism. A Practical Universal. Global Constitutionalism, vol.10, no.2, pp.367–375.

Law D.S. (ed.) (2022) Constitutionalism in Context, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Legrand P., Munday R. (eds.) (2003) Comparative Legal Studies: Traditions and Transitions, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Loughlin M. (2022) Against Constitutionalism, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Luchterhandt O. (ed.) (2002) Neue Regierungssysteme in Osteuropa und der GUS: Probleme der Ausbildung stabiler Machtinstitutionen, Berlin: Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag.

Merkel W. (2010) Systemtransformation: Eine Einführung in die Theorie und Empirie der Transformationsforschung, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

Möllers C. (2009) Das Grundgesetz, München: C.H.Beck.

Nowak M. (2022) Respect-Protect-Fulfill. In: Binder C., Nowak M., Hofbauer J.A., Janig P. Elgar Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp.162–167.

Nußberger A. (2021) Die Menschenrechte: Geschichte, Philosophie, Konflikte, München: C.H.Beck.

Nußberger A. (2022) Zur Lage der Gerichtsbarkeit. In: Holterhus T.P., Michl F. (eds.) Die schwache Gewalt? Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, pp.11–32.

Poscher R. (2021) Menschenwürde. In: Herdgen M., Masing J., Poscher R., Gärditz F. (eds.) Handbuch des Verfassungsrechts: Darstellung in transnationaler Perspektive, München: C.H.Beck, pp.1101–1061.

Rothermund D. (2006) Constitution Making and Decolonization. Diogenes, vol.53, no.4, pp.9–17.

Sajó A. (2021) Ruling by Cheating: Governance in Illiberal Democracy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Tomba M. (2019) Insurgent Universality: An Alternative Legacy of Modernity, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Volkmann U. (2021) Allgemeine Grundrechtslehren. In: Herdgen M., Masing J., Poscher R., Gärditz F. (eds.) Handbuch des Verfassungsrechts: Darstellung in transnationaler Perspektive, München: C.H.Beck, pp.1051–1099.

Weber M. (1906) Russlands Übergang zum Scheinkonstitutionalismus, Beilage zum 1. Heft des XXIII, Bandes des Archivs für Sozialwissenschaft und Sozialpolitik.

 

GOODBYE CONSTITUTIONAL PLURALISM?
RESPONSE TO ANGELIKA NUSSBERGER’S ESSAY
Sergey Belov

DOI:  10.21128/1812-7126-2024-2-102-105

Citation: Belov S. (2024) Proshchay, konstitutsionnyy plyuralizm?: Otvet na esse Angeliki Nussberger [Goodbye constitutional pluralism?: Response to Angelika Nussberger’s essay]. Sravnitel'noe konstitutsionnoe obozrenie, vol.33, no.2, pp.102–105. (In Russian).

 

ALL QUESTIONS REMAIN STILL OPEN
REMARK TO REPLY BY SERGEY BELOV
Angelika Nussberger

DOI:  10.21128/1812-7126-2024-2-106

Citation: Nussberger A. (2024) Vse voprosy ostayutsya otkrytymi: Remarka na otvet Sergeya Belova [All questions remain still open: Remark to reply by Sergey Belov]. Sravnitel'noe konstitutsionnoe obozrenie, vol.33, no.2, pp.1. (In Russian).