Constitutionalism in the Americas unites the work of leading scholars of constitutional law, comparative law and Latin American and U.S. constitutional law to provide a critical and provocative look at the state of constitutional law across the Americas today. The diverse chapters employ a variety of methodologies ? empirical, historical, philosophical and textual analysis ? in the effort to provide a comprehensive look at a generation of constitutional change across two continents. The authors document surprising changes, including the relative decline in the importance of U.S. constitutional jurisprudence outside U.S. borders and the growing exchange of Latin American constitutional thought with Europe and beyond. Accompanying commentary elaborates on the role of constitutional law in global changes in political, social and economic power and influence. The chapters also prompt thinking about a wide range of topics important not just in the Americas, but across the world, including the challenges and implications of using legal transplants and, conversely, the utility and potential of borrowing and adapting constitutional and other legal models to different realities. This book is useful not only for advanced students of constitutional law and theory but also for students new to the area and eager to tap into the newest thinking about constitutional law and law-making in the Americas and elsewhere. Contributors include: D. Bonilla Maldonado, J. Couso, C. Crawford, J.L. Esquirol, R. Gargarella, T. Ginsburg, T.K. Hernandez, D. Landau, D.S. Law, F. Nicola, F. Pou Gimenez

In this novel and unorthodox historical analysis of modern comparative law, Daniel Bonilla Maldonado explores the connections between modern comparative law and the identity of the modern legal subject. Narratives created by modern comparative law shed light on the role played by law in the construction of modern individual and collective identities. This study first examines the relationship between identity, law, and narrative. Second, it explores the moments of emergence and transformation of this area of law: instrumental comparative studies, comparative legislative studies, and comparative law as an autonomous discipline. Finally, it analyzes the theoretical perspectives that question the narrative created by modern comparative law: Third World Approaches to International Law, postcolonial studies of law, and critical comparative law. For lawyers and legal scholars, this study brings a nuanced understanding of the connections between the theory of modern comparative law and contemporary practical legal and political issues.

The Indian Supreme Court, the South African Constitutional Court, and the Colombian Constitutional Court have been among the most important and creative courts in the Global South. In Asia, Africa, and Latin America, these courts are widely seen as activist tribunals that have contributed (or attempted to contribute) to the structural transformation of the public and private spheres of their countries. The cases issued by these three courts are gradually creating what can be called a constitutionalism of the Global South. This book addresses in a direct and detailed way the jurisprudence of these three Courts on three key topics: access to justice, cultural diversity, and socioeconomic rights. This volume is a valuable contribution to the discussion about the contours and structure of contemporary constitutionalism. It makes explicit that this discussion has interlocutors both in the Global South and Global North while showing the common discourse between them and the important differences on how they interpret and solve key constitutional problems.

The Indian Supreme Court, the South African Constitutional Court and the Colombian Constitutional Court have been among the most important and creative courts in the Global South. In Asia, Africa and Latin America, they are seen as activist tribunals that have contributed (or attempted to contribute) to the structural transformation of the public and private spheres of their countries. The cases issued by these courts are creating a constitutionalism of the Global South. This book addresses in a direct and detailed way the jurisprudence of these Courts on three key topics: access to justice, cultural diversity and socioeconomic rights. This volume is a valuable contribution to the discussion about the contours and structure of contemporary constitutionalism. It makes explicit that this discussion has interlocutors both in the Global South and Global North while showing the common discourse between them and the differences on how they interpret and solve key constitutional problems.