Raffael Fasel – författare

Constitutionalism—the idea that constitutions should limit and direct government power—has emerged as the global standard for the exercise of public authority. Its appeal lies in the simple idea that constitutions should secure governance in the interests of the governed. Yet, its popularity has obscured a significant problem: constitutions are centred on the interests of rational human beings, neglecting those who lack such capacities—most notably, non-human animals.Animals and the Constitution breaks new ground by challenging the human-centredness of current constitutional theory and practices. It pioneers a more capacious account of constitutionalism—sentience-based constitutionalism—which is grounded in respect for the interests of all governed sentient beings. The book demonstrates how this account can be implemented in modern constitutions by rethinking four key principles of constitutionalism: fundamental rights, proportionality, rule of law, and democracy. To illustrate how these principles can be reimagined to protect the interests of both humans and animals, the book draws on and examines numerous real-world examples, ranging from judicial recognitions of wild animal rights in Ecuador, to direct democratic votes on primate rights in Switzerland, to entire proposed bills of rights for animals in Finland.A unique combination of constitutional theory, animal ethics, and comparative constitutional law, this book offers a practical blueprint for constitutions to address the moral and legal status of sentient beings.

Do animals have legal rights? This pioneering book tells readers everything they need to know about animal rights law.Using straightforward examples from over 30 legal systems from both the civil and common law traditions, and based on popular courses run by the authors at the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights, the book takes the reader from the earliest anti-cruelty laws to modern animal welfare laws, to recent attempts to grant basic rights and personhood to animals. To help readers understand this legal evolution, it explains the ethics, legal theory, and social issues behind animal rights and connected topics such as property, subjecthood, dignity, and human rights. The book’s companion website (bloomsbury.pub/animal-rights-law) provides access to briefs on the latest developments in this fast-changing area, and gives readers the tools to investigate their own legal systems with a list of key references to the latest cases, legislation, and jurisdiction-specific bibliographic references.Rich in exercises and study aids, this easy-to-use introduction is a prime resource for students from all disciplines and for anyone else who wants to understand how animals are protected by the law.

Do animals have legal rights? This pioneering book tells readers everything they need to know about animal rights law.Using straightforward examples from over 30 legal systems from both the civil and common law traditions, and based on popular courses run by the authors at the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights, the book takes the reader from the earliest anti-cruelty laws to modern animal welfare laws, to recent attempts to grant basic rights and personhood to animals. To help readers understand this legal evolution, it explains the ethics, legal theory, and social issues behind animal rights and connected topics such as property, subjecthood, dignity, and human rights. The book’s companion website (bloomsbury.pub/animal-rights-law) provides access to briefs on the latest developments in this fast-changing area, and gives readers the tools to investigate their own legal systems with a list of key references to the latest cases, legislation, and jurisdiction-specific bibliographic references.Rich in exercises and study aids, this easy-to-use introduction is a prime resource for students from all disciplines and for anyone else who wants to understand how animals are protected by the law.