Proportionality and Constitutional Culture

Although the most important constitutional doctrine worldwide, a thorough cultural and historical examination of proportionality has not taken place until now. This comparison of proportionality with its counterpart in American constitutional law - balancing - shows how culture and history can create deep differences in seemingly similar doctrines. Owing to its historical origin in Germany, proportionality carries to this day a pro-rights association, while the opposite is the case for balancing. In addition, European legal and political culture has shaped proportionality as intrinsic to the state's role in realizing shared values, while in the United States a suspicion-based legal and political culture has shaped balancing in more pragmatic and instrumental terms. Although many argue that the USA should converge on proportionality, the book shows that a complex web of cultural associations make it an unlikely prospect.

Author: Moshe Cohen-Eliya, Iddo Porat
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 06/13/2013
Pages: 184
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.80h x 5.90w x 0.20d
ISBN: 9781107605718

About the Author
Cohen-Eliya, Moshe: - Moshe Cohen-Eliya is Dean of the Law School of the Academic Center of Law and Business, Israel.Porat, Iddo: - Iddo Porat is a senior lecturer at the Law School of the Academic Center of Law and Business, Israel.