After World War II, states transformed into 'collective fortresses' in order to protect competing ideological systems. The debate on post-modern statehood heavily built on ideological disputes between liberalism and communism, over the nature of the economic and social system, and the state and government that could sustain such a system. What is an 'ideologically acceptable' state-concept; which tasks and fu- tions should the state fulfil, and how to legitimate not only democratic, but also authoritarian and even totalitarian regimes? These questions were at the very centre of state theory. However, after the fall of communism in Europe and the former Soviet Union, the discourse of state and government scholarship radically changed. The need for a profound shift in the state paradigm was emerging. The time after 1989 seemed to proclaim that the nation-state had lost its raison d'etre as an island of undisputed and unlimited sovereignty. A globalised world order broke open the 'fortress state' that developed within the tradition of European constitutionalism. Given the simultaneous structural changes to the nation-state's foundations, socio-economic and political reforms going hand in hand with new constitutional designs, the 'state in transition' started paving the way towards a new state paradigm, and not only with regard to the states in the process of de- cratic transformation from socialist into liberal constitutional democracies."

This book is an outcome of the round table conference held in 1984 in Switzerland. It deals with decision of decentralization, structure of decentralized units, external power of decentralized unit, financial autonomy and decentralization and the protection of the basic rights.

After World War II, states transformed into 'collective fortresses' in order to protect competing ideological systems. The debate on post-modern statehood heavily built on ideological disputes between liberalism and communism, over the nature of the economic and social system, and the state and government that could sustain such a system. What is an 'ideologically acceptable' state-concept; which tasks and fu- tions should the state fulfil, and how to legitimate not only democratic, but also authoritarian and even totalitarian regimes? These questions were at the very centre of state theory. However, after the fall of communism in Europe and the former Soviet Union, the discourse of state and government scholarship radically changed. The need for a profound shift in the state paradigm was emerging. The time after 1989 seemed to proclaim that the nation-state had lost its raison d'etre as an island of undisputed and unlimited sovereignty. A globalised world order broke open the 'fortress state' that developed within the tradition of European constitutionalism. Given the simultaneous structural changes to the nation-state's foundations, socio-economic and political reforms going hand in hand with new constitutional designs, the 'state in transition' started paving the way towards a new state paradigm, and not only with regard to the states in the process of de- cratic transformation from socialist into liberal constitutional democracies."

Seit dem Mauerfall haben die Nationalstaaten ihr Souveranitatsinsel-Dasein verloren. Die globalisierte Weltordnung hat die eurozentrische Festung "Staat" aufgebrochen. Der "Staat in Transition" ist zu einem Paradigma geworden. Die Staaten mussen sich der Universalisierung der Menschenrechte, der Rule of Law und den Prinzipien der guten Regierungsfuhrung stellen. Ethnische Konflikte bedrohen den Territorialstaat. Mehrheitsdemokratie und Zivilgesellschaft mussen sich gegenuber den die Staatsfrage stellenden Minderheiten bewahren. Die Migration lasst ein transnationales Burgerrecht entstehen. Rechtsstaaten sind zu Herrschaftsordnungen multikultureller Gesellschaften geworden. Sie mussen lokale und soziale Geborgenheit gewahrleisten, auf der Vielfalt ihrer Partikularitaten grunden und uber Dezentralisierung Autonomien schaffen. Wann bedrohen Multikulturalitaten den Staat, wann starken und bereichern sie ihn?"

The Routledge Handbook of Constitutional Law is an advanced level reference work which surveys the current state of constitutional law. Featuring new, specially commissioned papers by a range of leading scholars from around the world, it offers a comprehensive overview of the field as well as identifying promising avenues for future research. The book presents the key issues in constitutional law thematically allowing for a truly comparative approach to the subject. It also pays particular attention to constitutional design, identifying and evaluating various solutions to the challenges involved in constitutional architecture. The book is split into four parts for ease of reference: Part One: General issues "sets issues of constitutional law firmly in context including topics such as the making of constitutions, the impact of religion and culture on constitutions, and the relationship between international law and domestic constitutions. Part Two: Structures presents different approaches in regard to institutions or state organization and structural concepts such as emergency powers and electoral systems Part Three: Rights covers the key rights often enshrined in constitutions Part Four: New Challenges - explores issues of importance such as migration and refugees, sovereignty under pressure from globalization, Supranational Organizations and their role in creating post-conflict constitutions, and new technological challenges. Providing up-to-date and authoritative articles covering all the key aspects of constitutional law, this reference work is essential reading for advanced students, scholars and practitioners in the field.

The Routledge Handbook of Constitutional Law is an advanced level reference work which surveys the current state of constitutional law. Featuring new, specially commissioned papers by a range of leading scholars from around the world, it offers a comprehensive overview of the field as well as identifying promising avenues for future research. The book presents the key issues in constitutional law thematically allowing for a truly comparative approach to the subject. It also pays particular attention to constitutional design, identifying and evaluating various solutions to the challenges involved in constitutional architecture. The book is split into four parts for ease of reference: Part One: General issues "sets issues of constitutional law firmly in context including topics such as the making of constitutions, the impact of religion and culture on constitutions, and the relationship between international law and domestic constitutions. Part Two: Structures presents different approaches in regard to institutions or state organization and structural concepts such as emergency powers and electoral systems Part Three: Rights covers the key rights often enshrined in constitutions Part Four: New Challenges - explores issues of importance such as migration and refugees, sovereignty under pressure from globalization, Supranational Organizations and their role in creating post-conflict constitutions, and new technological challenges. Providing up-to-date and authoritative articles covering all the key aspects of constitutional law, this reference work is essential reading for advanced students, scholars and practitioners in the field.

Seit dem Mauerfall haben die Nationalstaaten ihr Souveranitatsinsel-Dasein verloren. Die globalisierte Weltordnung hat die eurozentrische Festung "Staat" aufgebrochen. Der "Staat in Transition" ist zu einem Paradigma geworden. Die Staaten mussen sich der Universalisierung der Menschenrechte, der Rule of Law und den Prinzipien der guten Regierungsfuhrung stellen. Ethnische Konflikte bedrohen den Territorialstaat. Mehrheitsdemokratie und Zivilgesellschaft mussen sich gegenuber den die Staatsfrage stellenden Minderheiten bewahren. Die Migration lasst ein transnationales Burgerrecht entstehen. Rechtsstaaten sind zu Herrschaftsordnungen multikultureller Gesellschaften geworden. Sie mussen lokale und soziale Geborgenheit gewahrleisten, auf der Vielfalt ihrer Partikularitaten grunden und uber Dezentralisierung Autonomien schaffen. Wann bedrohen Multikulturalitaten den Staat, wann starken und bereichern sie ihn?"

Switzerland is not only one of the oldest democracies in the world, but also an enduring model of peaceful multiethnic policy, characterized by a Constitution that is constant flux. The new Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation took effect on January 1, 2000; and it is with the intention of staying abreast of the constitutional changes and of the case law of the Federal Court that the authors have prepared the current volume. A general introduction of the constitutional history and the foundations of the Swiss political system are followed by the following issues:
- Sources of Swiss Constitutional Law;
- Organisational Design of the Swiss Confederation;
- Federalism in General and the Position of the Cantons and the Municipalities in the Swiss Confederation;
- Citizenship, Fundamental Rights and Liberties and their Judicial Protection, Protection of Minorities, Judicial Control of Administrative Action;
- Treaty and Foreign Affairs Powers, Taxing and Spending Powers, t Relationship between the State and the Church.