Comparing Constitutional Democracy in the European Union and India: An Introduction

Democratic Constitutionalism in India and the European Union: Comparing the Law of Democracy in Continental Polities eds. P. Dann & A. Thiruvengadam, Edward Elgar Publishing 2021, Forthcoming

40 Pages Posted: 30 Sep 2020

See all articles by Philipp Dann

Philipp Dann

Humboldt University - Chair for Public and Comparative Law

Arun K. Thiruvengadam

NLSIU Bangalore

Date Written: August 14, 2020

Abstract

This chapter introduces a volume that aims to fill an astonishing gap in the burgeoning literature on comparative constitutional studies: a comparison of democratic constitutionalism in India and the EU. It posits that while these two polities seem hard to compare at first sight (a state in the Global South and a regional organization in the Global North), they share a certain socio-political quality as continental polities beyond the conventional understanding (and size) of nation-states. And equally importantly, they share a core belief and a normative anchor – that democracy is possible even in vastly diverse societies of continental scale and that a constitutional framework is best able to secure the ideals of collective autonomy and individual dignity. Against this background, the chapter sketches the larger context of the underlying research project and its three larger aims: to start a comparative conversation about Indian and European experiences of constitutionalism; to showcase a comparative approach that we call ‘slow comparison’; and to deepen our understanding of democratic constitutionalism and the law of democracy in multinational and socio-culturally diverse polities.

Keywords: India, European Union, democratic constitutionalism, ‘slow comparison’, law of democracy

Suggested Citation

Dann, Philipp and Thiruvengadam, Arun K., Comparing Constitutional Democracy in the European Union and India: An Introduction (August 14, 2020). Democratic Constitutionalism in India and the European Union: Comparing the Law of Democracy in Continental Polities eds. P. Dann & A. Thiruvengadam, Edward Elgar Publishing 2021, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3673918 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3673918

Philipp Dann (Contact Author)

Humboldt University - Chair for Public and Comparative Law ( email )

Unter den Linden 9
Berlin, 10099
Germany

Arun K. Thiruvengadam

NLSIU Bangalore ( email )

Nagarbhavi
Bangalore, KS Karnataka 560072
India

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.nls.ac.in/

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