The UK’s referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016 generated deep divisions in British politic... more The UK’s referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016 generated deep divisions in British politics. It led to the resignation of incumbent Prime Minister David Cameron the following day, and an inability to deliver Brexit led to the resignation of his successor Theresa May in 2019. In addition, it has led to a number of legal challenges to the policies and processes of implementing these by both May’s and Boris Johnson’s governments. Those who support leaving the EU have characterised this period as one of ‘crisis’, in which politicians—unable to agree on a means of leaving—were pitted against the electorate or public will. Judicial challenges to the terms of exit and means of achieving Brexit were further incorporated into notions of crisis to the extent that failure to implement Brexit was portrayed as a crisis affecting the entire political system, or a constitutional crisis. In this article, we unpack this discourse, and by distinguishing between different forms of crises challenge the existing understanding of Brexit as a constitutional crisis. Rather, we suggest that these problems stemmed from constitutional weaknesses, specifically that the constitution is based on a reductionist understanding of power.
It is clear today that the problems faced by the international community are truly ‘global’ in sc... more It is clear today that the problems faced by the international community are truly ‘global’ in scale and require collective action well beyond the level of the nation-state. As a result of this, many contemporary scholars have turned to the idea of global constitutionalism as a potential panacea to these global issues, seeking to extrapolate the benefits of the constitution into the international system in order to harness globalisations more beneficial qualities while ameliorating its more dangerous traits. This thesis will address these ‘global constitutionalist’ arguments with a particular focus on global pluralism. It will suggest that the ‘mainstream’ global constitutionalist arguments are likely to fail in their mission of attaining the benefits of constitutionalism at the international level for two key reasons. Firstly, the visions of global constitutionalism offered by these global constitutionalists tend to be ‘partial’ in nature and underplay the importance of constitutio...
Although Tax Credit changes were accepted in the House of Commons, the failure of the Lords to ap... more Although Tax Credit changes were accepted in the House of Commons, the failure of the Lords to approve this motion has created some interesting paradoxes. Sagar S Deva and Christopher Kirkland write that rather than suggesting politically-motivated and short-termist changes to affect the passage of legislation, a longer term appreciation of proposed changes is required to reach a modern workable constitutional settlement.
Contestation and Constitution of Norms in Global International Relations, 2018
Antje Wiener examines the involvement of local actors in conflicts over global norms such as fund... more Antje Wiener examines the involvement of local actors in conflicts over global norms such as fundamental rights and the prohibition of torture and sexual violence. Providing accounts of local interventions made on behalf of those affected by breaches of norms, she identifies the constraints and opportunities for stakeholder participation in a fragmented global society. The book also considers cultural and institutional diversity with regard to the co-constitution of norm change. Proposing a clear framework to operationalize research on contested norms, and illustrating it through three recent cases, this book contributes to the project of global international relations by offering an agency-centred approach. It will interest scholars and advanced students of international relations, international political theory, and international law seeking a principled approach to practice that overcomes the practice-norm gap.
Wiener, Antje 2018, Contestation and Constitution of Norms in Global International Relations, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018
Antje Wiener examines the involvement of local actors in conflicts over global norms such as fund... more Antje Wiener examines the involvement of local actors in conflicts over global norms such as fundamental rights and the prohibition of torture and sexual violence. Providing accounts of local interventions made on behalf of those affected by breaches of norms, she identifies the constraints and opportunities for stakeholder participation in a fragmented global society. The book also considers cultural and institutional diversity with regard to the co-constitution of norm change. Proposing a clear framework to operationalize research on contested norms, and illustrating it through three recent cases, this book contributes to the project of global international relations by offering an agency-centred approach. It will interest scholars and advanced students of international relations, international political theory, and international law seeking a principled approach to practice that overcomes the practice-norm gap.
The UK’s referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016 generated deep divisions in British politic... more The UK’s referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016 generated deep divisions in British politics. It led to the resignation of incumbent Prime Minister David Cameron the following day, and an inability to deliver Brexit led to the resignation of his successor Theresa May in 2019. In addition, it has led to a number of legal challenges to the policies and processes of implementing these by both May’s and Boris Johnson’s governments. Those who support leaving the EU have characterised this period as one of ‘crisis’, in which politicians—unable to agree on a means of leaving—were pitted against the electorate or public will. Judicial challenges to the terms of exit and means of achieving Brexit were further incorporated into notions of crisis to the extent that failure to implement Brexit was portrayed as a crisis affecting the entire political system, or a constitutional crisis. In this article, we unpack this discourse, and by distinguishing between different forms of crises challenge the existing understanding of Brexit as a constitutional crisis. Rather, we suggest that these problems stemmed from constitutional weaknesses, specifically that the constitution is based on a reductionist understanding of power.
It is clear today that the problems faced by the international community are truly ‘global’ in sc... more It is clear today that the problems faced by the international community are truly ‘global’ in scale and require collective action well beyond the level of the nation-state. As a result of this, many contemporary scholars have turned to the idea of global constitutionalism as a potential panacea to these global issues, seeking to extrapolate the benefits of the constitution into the international system in order to harness globalisations more beneficial qualities while ameliorating its more dangerous traits. This thesis will address these ‘global constitutionalist’ arguments with a particular focus on global pluralism. It will suggest that the ‘mainstream’ global constitutionalist arguments are likely to fail in their mission of attaining the benefits of constitutionalism at the international level for two key reasons. Firstly, the visions of global constitutionalism offered by these global constitutionalists tend to be ‘partial’ in nature and underplay the importance of constitutio...
Although Tax Credit changes were accepted in the House of Commons, the failure of the Lords to ap... more Although Tax Credit changes were accepted in the House of Commons, the failure of the Lords to approve this motion has created some interesting paradoxes. Sagar S Deva and Christopher Kirkland write that rather than suggesting politically-motivated and short-termist changes to affect the passage of legislation, a longer term appreciation of proposed changes is required to reach a modern workable constitutional settlement.
Contestation and Constitution of Norms in Global International Relations, 2018
Antje Wiener examines the involvement of local actors in conflicts over global norms such as fund... more Antje Wiener examines the involvement of local actors in conflicts over global norms such as fundamental rights and the prohibition of torture and sexual violence. Providing accounts of local interventions made on behalf of those affected by breaches of norms, she identifies the constraints and opportunities for stakeholder participation in a fragmented global society. The book also considers cultural and institutional diversity with regard to the co-constitution of norm change. Proposing a clear framework to operationalize research on contested norms, and illustrating it through three recent cases, this book contributes to the project of global international relations by offering an agency-centred approach. It will interest scholars and advanced students of international relations, international political theory, and international law seeking a principled approach to practice that overcomes the practice-norm gap.
Wiener, Antje 2018, Contestation and Constitution of Norms in Global International Relations, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018
Antje Wiener examines the involvement of local actors in conflicts over global norms such as fund... more Antje Wiener examines the involvement of local actors in conflicts over global norms such as fundamental rights and the prohibition of torture and sexual violence. Providing accounts of local interventions made on behalf of those affected by breaches of norms, she identifies the constraints and opportunities for stakeholder participation in a fragmented global society. The book also considers cultural and institutional diversity with regard to the co-constitution of norm change. Proposing a clear framework to operationalize research on contested norms, and illustrating it through three recent cases, this book contributes to the project of global international relations by offering an agency-centred approach. It will interest scholars and advanced students of international relations, international political theory, and international law seeking a principled approach to practice that overcomes the practice-norm gap.
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