The Cambridge Handbook of Deliberative Constitutionalism

'This Handbook offers a comprehensive exploration of the implications of the 'deliberative turn' in legal and political philosophy for the theory and practice of constitutionalism. It investigates not only how deliberation can enhance constitution-making but also, and more innovatively and importantly, how it can improve the everyday working of constitutional systems. Deliberation thereby becomes an important goal of constitutional design. The focus on deliberation also serves to close the gap that is sometimes thought to exist between constitutionalism and democracy. As the authors show, democracy and constitutional law can mutually reinforce their respective deliberative qualities, increasing the legitimacy and justification of each.' Richard Bellamy, Director of the Max Weber Programme, European University Institute, Florence and University College London
'The chapters in this book are timely and collectively offer a theoretically rich, empirically informed and normatively compelling alternative to a prime threat to liberal democracy today: populist constitutionalism.' Simone Chambers, University of California
'Should constitutional change require a more deliberative kind of law-making? Is that what might make 'higher law-making' higher? This handbook offers an excellent compendium of the competing perspectives in this current debate. Anyone interested in the deliberative democracy of constitutions should read this book.' James Fishkin, Janet M. Peck Professor of International Communication, Stanford University, California, and author of Democracy When the People Are Thinking