Constitutional Theocracy
A tour de force. Ran Hirschl's powerful analysis convincingly demonstrates that constitutionalism encompasses constitutional theocracy as well as constitutional democracy, that constitutional theocracy is becoming a dominant form of constitutionalism globally, and that this conflation of constitutional and religious values may have underappreciated virtues (and vices). (Mark Graber, University of Maryland School of Law)Ran Hirschl proves himself to be among the leading scholars of comparative constitutionalism writing today, and his signal contribution is to develop and analyze a distinctive form of constitutional polity, "constitutional theocracy."  Anyone interested in the interaction of law and society will certainly need to read this book and will find themselves fascinated by the stories about developments in Iran, Pakistan, India, Israel, and Turkey, to name only five of the countries Hirschl analyzes in depth. (Sanford Levinson, University of Texas at Austin School of Law)Inevitably this book will raise hackles - given its critically important subject how could it be otherwise? But Hirschl is learned in exposition and acute in analysis. He demonstrates the same superb comparative skills familiar from his previous classic. (JHH Weiler, Editor-in-Chief, I-CON The International Journal of Constitutional Law)Hirschl brings a wealth of understanding of comparative judicial politics in numerous contexts... [Constitutional Theocracy] proceeds to explore the implications of the constitutional embrace and limitation of religion, arguing that constitutionalism and theocratic government work hand-in-hand in both secular and theocratic contexts. It holds that secular elites in particular make use of legal texts as a means of consolidating their rule in all such societies, whether officially religious or secular...Hirschl's work is unique and extremely important. It is a must-read for all scholars of religion and legal politics. (P. RoweChoice2011-09-01)