The Distorting Lens of Convergent Constitutional Theory

Peter Cane

Peter Cane is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Law at the Australian National University College of Law, and before that a Professor of Law at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

This book challenges the near-universal acceptance of a US-style, Western constitutional paradigm as the best basis for comparative constitutional studies.

The main pillars of this ‘convergent constitutional theory’ are rooted in the revolutionary, late-eighteenth century – a lost world; constitutional arrangements that deviate from the paradigm are often branded as ‘outliers’ or even not constitutional at all; and the foundations of the paradigm in liberal democracy give no space for other forms of constitutionalism.

This book dives into the theory and makes suggestions for alternative, preferable methods of understanding, analysing and explaining constitutions, and governmental and constitutional systems.

Peter Cane is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Law at the Australian National University College of Law, and before that a Professor of Law at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

Jul 2025   |   9781509988464   |   152pp   |   Hbk   |    RRP: £80

Discount Price: £64

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