CONSTITUTIONALISM FROM THE GLOBAL SOUTH

ABOUT

There has been a growing interest over the last ten years or so in pluralizing the epistemological foundations of the field of comparative constitutional studies so that it becomes more attentive to non-Western perspectives on constitutionalism.

Partly this has to do with the delayed reception in comparative constitutional studies of something akin to the international-law subfield, TWAIL (Third World Approaches to International Law).

Another aspect has been the move to a more multipolar world since 2008, meaning that Western governance norms can no longer serve as the default standard by which the moral attractiveness of non-Western national constitutional systems is judged. Together, these two changes have triggered an upsurge in comparative scholarship on constitutional phenomena in non-Western settings.

The phrase “constitutionalism from the Global South” tries to capture the spirit of this new line of research, which understands the Global South not as a geographic location but as a distinct perspective on constitutionalism associated principally with a shared experience of Western colonialism and governance under the post-colony. Major lines of research initiated so far include decolonizing Western-style constitutions in the Global South (whether this is necessary and, if so, what it would entail), the methodological implications of adopting a Global South perspective on comparative constitutionalism, and addressing power imbalances in scholarly knowledge production in the field of comparative constitutional studies.

Against this background, the group aims to provide a forum within which scholars interested in this developing line of literature can exchange ideas and share research.

ACTIVITIES

Over the next few years, the group plans to hold meetings at the ICON•S Annual Conference, to assist with the organization of relevant panels at the Annual Conference, and to provide a channel for group members to share information on events, research, and achievements by email.

Convenors

Philipp Dann
Humboldt University of Berlin

Theunis Roux
University of New South Wales

Dinesha Samararatne
University of Colombo

CONTACT

Interested ICON•S members can contact Theunis Roux at t.roux@unsw.edu.au to receive more information or join the group.

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