This book uses the concept of ‘constitutional moments’ as a lens to study constitutional developments in 15 Asian jurisdictions in the last few decades. Whereas the theory of constitutional moments was originally developed by Bruce Ackerman in the context of American constitutional history, this book adapts and further develops this theory to elucidate and understand contemporary Asian constitutional phenomena. A broader conception of constitutional moments is developed that goes beyond Ackerman’s concept of a highly-mobilised public effecting a significant transformation in the prevailing constitutional paradigm, with the ‘moment’ unfolding over a long duration. The chapters in this volume aim to identify key changes, developments, trends, transformations, and events that have had a profound impact on the polity and constitutional landscape, with lasting ripple effects that continue to affect recent constitutional developments of each jurisdiction concerned. Viewed collectively, these moments present a snapshot of the key issues in contemporary Asian constitutional developments. While the project of constitutionalism first began in the West, this book tells exciting stories from Asian jurisdictions as major laboratories of constitutionalism in the twenty-first century. It demonstrates that while significant progress has been achieved, the struggle for constitutionalism in Asia is still very much a work in progress, facing many trials and challenges in many places. Both hope and danger abound.
