Rethinking constitutionalism and democracy . . . again?

Islamic Constitutionalism and the Concept of Democracy

Rethinking heredity, again.

The refutation of 'soft' inheritance and establishment of Mendelian genetics as the exclusive model of heredity is widely portrayed as an iconic success story of scientific progress. Yet, we are witnessing a re-emergence of debate on the role of soft inheritance in heredity and evolution. I argue that this reversal reflects not only the weight of new evidence but also an important conceptual ch...

Rethinking Democracy Support

L democracy, and its promotion, are now facing a set of serious challenges.1 On the one hand, as the Arab Spring demonstrates, democratic aspirations are intensifying, which opens up significant new opportunities for democracy support. On the other hand, in the context of the financial crisis and austerity, levels of funding for democracy aid are being reconsidered, and the credibility and effe...

Rethinking democracy promotion

Despite the fact that democracy promotion is a major part of liberal foreign policies, the discipline of International Relations has not paid much systematic attention to it. Conversely, the study of democracy promotion is dominated by comparative politics and pays hardly any attention to the international system. This mutual neglect signifies a core weakness in the theory and practice of democ...

Transformative Constitutionalism in South Africa: 20 Years of Democracy

This article reflects on the transformative nature of South Africa’s Constitution, looking at the past 20 years of a widely celebrated democracy. The article discusses the successful entrenchment of institutional framework and challenges facing transformative constitutionalism (TC). South Africa’s history for the better part of the 20th century reveals a variety of historical phenomena ranging ...