Jens Meierhenrich

Legacies of Law (eBook, PDF)

Long-Run Consequences of Legal Development in South Africa, 1652-2000

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

Focusing on South Africa during the period 1650-2000, this book examines the role of law in making democracy work in changing societies. The Legacies of Law sheds light on the neglected relationship between path dependence and the law. Meierhenrich argues that legal norms and institutions, even illiberal ones, have an important - and hitherto undertheorized - structuring effect on democratic outcomes. Under certain conditions, law appears to reduce uncertainty in democratization by invoking common cultural backgrounds and experiences. In instances where interacting adversaries share qua law reasonably convergent mental models, transitions from authoritarian rule are shown to be less intractable. Meierhenrich's historical analysis of the evolution of law - and its effects - in South Africa during the period 1650-2000, compared with a short study of Chile from 1830-1990, shows how, and when, legal norms and institutions serve as historical causes to both liberal and illiberal rule.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• Erscheinungstermin: 13. Oktober 2008
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780511434433
• Artikelnr.: 38197706

Inhaltsangabe

1. Introduction
Part I. A Theory of Law: 2. A typology of law
3. Path dependence and the law
Part II. A History of Law: 4. Apartheid and the law I
5. Apartheid and the law II
6. Apartheid's endgame and the law I
7. Apartheid's endgame and the law II
Part III. A Comparative Analysis: 8. A plausability probe
9. Conclusion.

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1. Introduction; Part I. A Theory of Law: 2. A typology of law; 3. Path dependence and the law; Part II. A History of Law: 4. Apartheid and the law I; 5. Apartheid and the law II; 6. Apartheid's endgame and the law I; 7. Apartheid's endgame and the law II; Part III. A Comparative Analysis: 8. A plausability probe; 9. Conclusion.

Rezensionen

'South Africa's peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy has surprised many observers. In an innovative approach to this topic, Professor Jens Meierhenrich argues that existing legal norms and institutions have important structuring effects on transitions to democracy. He identifies the dichotomy between apartheid law's rational formalism and its irrational substance and asserts that this body of law 'was, in an important respect, necessary for making democracy work'. ... The Legacies of Law offers an important account of the end of apartheid and expands the lessons of that experience to broader issues of democratization.' Harvard Law Review