Mål og innhald
This course provides students with an introduction to constitutional theory and empirical examples from processes of constitution-making, constitutional and democratic change in various parts of the world, but with an emphasis on the empirical experiences of African and Middle Eastern countries. The course is divided into three main parts. In the first part, we focus on how constitutions help or hinder democracy. Constitutional theory is discussed, starting with the formal constitution. The aim is to discuss how - in various forms and designs - constitutions function as power-maps and as mechanisms to limit the exercise of power. In the second part, focus is placed on constitution-making as process. Increasingly, constitution-making involves broad public participation and deliberation. The course lectures and discussions will emphasise how constitutions are made ¿ and changed ¿ in different ways and influenced by different social actors (such as negotiated deals as political transition, as a result of a technocratic process, or, constitutional engineering, a gradual process of re-interpretation by courts and other authorities). In the third part, we emphasize empirical examples of constitution-making in practice in Africa and the Middle East. Constitutions are analysed through the prisms of inclusion/exclusion, formality/informality, revolution, and electoral authoritarianism.
