THE CONSTITUTION OF DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY

Carlos S. Nino

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1996 LW

264 pp. 6 1/8 x 9 1/4

Cloth ISBN 0-300-06748-8 $45.00

Paper ISBN 0-300-07727-0 $19.00

Reviews

What justifies democracy? Carlos Santiago Nino here answers this question with an original theory of democracy that emphasizes its deliberative character. Nino sees democracy as a moral conversation, of value for its capacity to generate an impartial perspective and take into account the interests of all citizens. In a wide-ranging analysis, Nino explores the complex ways constitutional practices can support a deliberative democracy.

"The widely discussed relation between democracy and constitutionalism depends on the meaning of these two terms. Nino's analysis leads to numerous insights that, at the same time, excels by its practical fitness as well as its theoretical depth. The result is a new theory of deliberative democracy offering challenging new solutions to old problems. A magnificent book!"--Robert Alexy

"Carlos Nino was an extraordinary combination of theoretical philosopher, practical statesman, and heroic patriot. His work engages and repays attention at all three levels."--Ronald Dworkin

“The untimely death of Carlos Nino has deprived Latin America of one of its leading activists for constitutionalism, and it has torn from the international community of constitutional scholars one of its best and brightest. Carlos Nino was notably not only for his political wisdom and courage, but also for the unusual sophistication and cosmopolitanism of his constitutional thinking. This book is his last testament to the rest of us concerned with confining political action to the rule of law, and it is a poignant reminder of how much more he might have helped the constitutional democrats of this anxious world.”--Stanley N. Katz

“Breathtaking in its scope, this important and original book provides an account of constitutionalism, a sophisticated variation of the liberal theory of rights, a review of contending views of the foundations of democratic theory, practical institutional proposals for modern democratic states, and a consideration of the justification of judicial review in a democracy.”--Lawrence Sager

"Nino's eminently readable synthesis of legal, moral, and political debates focuses on the tension between democratic politics and constitutionalism. . . . His analysis of impartiality, equality, and autonomy, including their deliberative 'surrogates,' bolsters a notion of objective democratic legitimacy against thin theories of interest-aggregation."--Choice

"The reader will find a remarkable effort to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of contemporary constitiutional law and human rights policy. . . . Nino's arguments lie entirely in the intellectual debates of American academia. They are vigorously crafted with the subtle ingenuity of the learned scholar and experienced jurist. His discussions are most of the time enlightening and have the merit of rendereing readily available and directely meaningful to lawyers many relevant aspects of the current debate in political theory and moral philosophy. Moreover his insider's account of human rights policy-making in Argentina is instructive and in many ways appealing. Students of constitutional law and human rights will find worthy reading in his books."--Marcus Faro de Castro, The Law and Politics Book Review

"A rich and rewarding discussion of retroactive justice. . . . Carlos Santiago Nino died in 1993 at age 49. He was an unusual combination of philosopher, lawyer, activist, and scholar whose passion for ideas was equaled only by his passion for life. That life was cut short, but Nino's ideas on human rights, ethics, justice, and democracy are still here to enrich discussions and stimulate debate. As a good book should, that is exactly what this book does."--Dorothy V. Jones, Ethics and International Affairs

“Carlos Nino was notable not only for his political wisdom and courage but also for the unusual sophistication and cosmopolitanism of his constitutional thinking. This book is his last testament to the rest of us concerned with confining political action to the rule of law.”--Stanley N. Katz

“Breathtaking in its scope, this important and original book provides an account of constitutionalism, a sophisticated variation of the liberal theory of rights, a review of contending views of the foundations of political theory, practical institutional proposals for modern democratic states, and a consideration of the justification of judicial review in a democracy.”--Lawrence Sager

Carlos Santiago Nino (1943-1993) was professor of law at the University of Buenos Aires and a regular visiting professor at the Yale Law School. He became involved in politics in the early 1980s in an effort to restore democracy in Argentina and later served President Raul Alfonsin as an advisor on human rights and constitutional reform.