Pathways to Constitutional Legitimacy in Asia Pacific

This book explores the origins, successes, and threats to revolutionary constitutionalism around the world. Contributing authors evaluate typologies of revolutionary, elitist and establishmentarian constitutional orders to answer the question: what does it mean for a constitution to be borne out of a revolution?Drawing on case studies from nine jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region, the contributors expand the field of comparative constitutional law by moving beyond American and European-centered narratives. In particular, they critically engage with Bruce Ackerman’s Revolutionary Constitutions, interrogating his methodology and conclusions from an Asia-Pacific perspective. By bringing these histories and practices to the fore, the book broadens the scope of comparative constitutional scholarship, demonstrating how revolutionary and non-revolutionary dynamics coexist in shaping constitutional orders. The book concludes with a direct response from Ackerman which engages with the reflections presented, fostering an open and ongoing dialogue in the field.Pathways to Constitutional Legitimacy in Asia Pacific is a valuable resource for scholars and students of comparative constitutional law and theory.