Constitutional pluralism in the European Union and beyond
By: edited by Matej Avbelj and Jan Komárek
Series: Studies of the Oxford Institute of European and Comparative Law -- v. 14; Studies of the Oxford Institute of European and Comparative Law -- v. 14.
Publisher: Hart Publishing
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Oxford; Portland, Or
Language: eng
Number of pages: 424
ISBN-13: 9781849461252
Subjects: Constitutional law; Congresses; Legal polycentricity
Description: Constitutional pluralism has become immensely popular among scholars who study European integration and issues of global governance. Some of them believe that constitutionalism, traditionally thought to be bound to a nation state, can emerge beyond state borders - most importantly in the process of European integration, but also beyond that, for example, in international regulatory regimes such as the WTO, or international systems of fundamental rights protection, such as the European Convention. At the same time, the idea of constitutional pluralism has not gone unchallenged. Some have questioned its compatibility with the very nature of law and the values which law brings to constitutionalism. The critiques have come from both sides: from those who believe in the 'traditional' European constitutionalism based on a hierarchically superior authority of the European Union as well as from scholars focusing on constitutions of particular states. The book collects contributions taking opposing perspectives on constitutional pluralism - some defending and promoting the concept of constitutional pluralism, some criticising and opposing it. While some authors can be called 'the founding fathers of constitutional pluralism', others are young academics who have recently entered the field. Together they offer fresh perspectives on both theoretical and practical aspects of constitutional pluralism, enriching our existing understanding of the concept in current scholarship
Notes: Papers originally presented at a conference held in Oxford under the auspices of the Institute of European and Comparative Law of the University of Oxford, Mar. 20-21, 2009.

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction  -- Matej Avbelj and Jan Komárek; title: Constitutionalism and pluralism in global context  -- Neil Walker; title: Rethinking constitutional authority : on the structure and limits of constitutional pluralism  -- Mattias Kumm; title: Three claims of constitutional pluralism  -- Miguel Poiares Maduro; title: Systems pluralism and institutional pluralism in constitutional law : national, supranational and global governance  -- Daniel Halberstam; title: Multilevel constitutionalism and constitutional pluralism  -- Franz C Mayer and Mattias Wendel; title: The fallacy of European multilevel constitutionalism  -- René Barents; title: Federalism as constitutional pluralism : 'letter from America'  -- Robert Schütze; title: Out with the new, in with the old - neo-Roman constitutional thought and the enigma of constitutional pluralism in the EU  -- Ola Zetterquist; title: Institutional dimension of constitutional pluralism  -- Jan Komárek; title: Legal pluralism and institutional disobedience in the European Union  -- Julio Baquero Cruz; title: Constitutional disagreement in Europe and the search for pluralism  -- Gareth Davies; title: The silent lamb and the deaf wolves  -- Daniel Sarmiento; title: Constitutional dialogues, pluralism and conflicting identities  -- Xavier Groussot; title: Monism : a tale of the undead  -- Alexander Somek; title: Can European integration be constitutional and pluralist--both at the same time? -- Matej Avbelj