Constitutions and Culture

This subject aims to shed light on one of the most important but under-studied topics in comparative public and constitutional law: culture. Culture is meant in a broad sense, encompassing local tradition and distinctiveness but also the shared suppositions and assumptions that animate lawyers, judges, politicians etc. when they interact with or apply constitutional rules and norms. Cultural factors animate many constitutional practices in a way that is very important but hard to see and unpack. Cultural forces also shape our understanding and observation of constitutional practice. Constitutional design and peace making/institution building are hugely influenced by culture.