Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Map: the Asia-Pacific region; Introduction; Part I. Modernity and Nation-States at the Dawn of the Global Era: 1. Traditional states and colonisation; 2. The modern constitution; 3. Writing the constitution; Part II. The Constitution of Modernity: 4. The legislature; 5. Representation; 6. Head of state; 7. Constitutional revision; Part III. Democracy and the Rule of Law: 8. Courts and the judiciary; 9. The suspension of constitutional power; 10. Devolution; Conclusion: postmodernity and constitutionalism; Appendix: chronology of constitutional events in the Asia Pacific; Bibliography; Index.

Promotional Information

This 2002 book analyses the formal constitutional changes that have taken place in the Asia-Pacific region.

About the Author

Graham Hassall is widely published in Pacific Studies and is an expert on the states of Micronesia in particular. He was Research Fellow and Director of the Asia-Pacific program of teaching and research in the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at the University of Melbourne Law School, and is currently the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Landegg International University, Switzerland. Cheryl Saunders is one of Australia's leading scholars in the fields of comparative and international law. She is the Director of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at the University of Melbourne. She has been an adviser to many governments in the region on the question of constitutional development and reform.

Reviews

'In this very interesting book, the authors investigate the various forms that constitutional arrangements assume in the Asia-Pacific … the highly useful appendix … and the comprehensive bibliography also contribute to make the book a precious reference work for students and researchers in, and out of, the field of Asian Studies. But the most relevant contribution is methodological and consists of the authors clearly stressing he fact that there is little insight to be gained from the mere juxtaposition of legal principles and institutions without taking into account the historical, philosophical and human circumstances to which they respond and which affect their operation and significance. This multidisciplinary and contextual approach is just what is needed to investigate any kind of social phenomena across cultures.' Political Studies Review