Civil Society, Constitution, and Legitimacy

Description

Spurred by recent governmental transitions from dictatorships to democratic institutions, this highly original work argues that negotiated civil society-oriented transitions have an affinity for a distinctive method of constitution making_one that accomplishes the radical change of institutions through legal continuity. Arato presents a compelling argument that this is the preferred method for rapidly establishing viable democratic institutions, and he contrasts the negotiated model with radical revolutionary change. This exceptionally engaging work will be of interest to students and scholars of comparative politics, constitutional law, and East European studies, as well as to political scientists and sociologists. Dedication Contents Preface 1 Interpreting 1989 2 Civil Society, Transition, and the Problem of Institutionalization 3 Revolution, Restoration, and Legitimation: Ideological Problems of the Transition from State Socialism 4 Dilemmas of the Power to Make Constitutions in East Europe 5 Constitution and Continuity in the East European Transitions 6 Refurbishing the Legitimacy of the New Regime: Constitution-Making Endgame in Hungary and Poland 7 Forms of Constitution Making and Theories of Democracy Notes Index About the Author