Bertus de Villiers - Böcker

This major work written by prominent South African academics is an introduction to the new constitutional order in South Africa. It places fundamental rights as affirmed in Chapter 3 of the South African Constitution in a comparative and international context. The authors draw heavily on the constitutional experience of countries such as Canada, India, Germany, and the United States, which greatly influenced the drafting of Chapter 3 of the Constitution. The study is shaped by principles that form the foundation of the new order: the supremacy of the Constitution, the notion of a democratic constitutional state, and the judicial protection of fundamental rights.The book is divided into four parts. The first deals with constitutionalism, democracy, and constitutional interpretation. The second part provides an examination of the historical background of the 1993 Constitution and a description of the principal features of the Constitution. The third part contains an analysis of the key fundamental rights which constitutes the main purpose of the study. Detailed treatment is given to civil and political rights, social and economic rights, the concepts of equality and administrative justice, and the circumstances in which limitations may be imposed on rights. A separate chapter is devoted to the international protection of human rights as directed by Section 35(1) of the Constitution. The final part comprises a bibliography of the works cited in the text following the sequence of the chapters.This is a book which will be of interest to all constitutional law specialists and to many political scientists, particularly those with an interest in constitutionalism and constitutional litigation.

This text illustrates and compares a variety of experiences that countries across the world have had in the practical application of federal principles, and analyzes recent international developments in federalism and regionalism.

One of the most dramatic developments of the final decades of the 20th century is the unravelling of apartheid in the Republic of South Africa. The question that the world asks is, "Will this evolution result in the first true liberal democracy in sub-Saharan Africa - one founded on self-government and full and equal citizenship for all?". How can the legacy of apartheid be undone while the rights of all are kept secure? How can the promise of equal economic opportunity be fulfilled as vast economic inequalities are abolished? A collaboration between eminent South Africans and American constitutional scholars, this volume identifies the principles that might accomplish this momentous transition.

In this book, Bertus de Villiers offers unique insights into institutional design aimed at the protection of minority rights. He reflects on several case studies to highlight various aspects of the complexity of contemporary constitution drafting and how creative solutions have been found to secure the rights of minorities. The respective chapters drill down to a practical level to assist constitutional scholars, legal scientists, the judiciary and practitioners to better comprehend the dynamics of minority rights in the country under discussion; to be informed by the jurisprudence that have arisen; and to gain insights from the adjustments that had to be made to more effectively protect the rights of minorities.