Synopses & Reviews
In this compelling study, which unites the fields of constitutional theory and comparative politics, John E. Finn examines how the efforts of two western liberal democracies, the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany, to cope with domestic terrorism threatens their constitutional integrity. Finn argues first that widespread political violence challenges the presuppositions of constitutional authority in any liberal democracy, namely that reason and deliberation, and not passion or will, can be the basis of political community. Terrorism therefore constitutes both a specific type of constitutional emergency and a challenge to the more general enterprise of constitutional maintenance. He then proceeds to review the efforts of the United Kingdom and Germany to control political violence through emergency legislation, and considers to what extent such measures comport with the demands of constitutionalism and the rule of law.
Review
"[An] exciting study of how constitutional systems cope with political violence....Finn advances his argument not only persuasively and with great clarity but also with passion."--Times Higher Education Supplement
"A very useful study of constitution-maintenance in extreme situations....Searching scholarship and alertness to the terrible distorting demands of political self-preservation are especially prominent here. Recommended for all college and university collections as well as libraries seeking to serve informed general readers."--Choice
"Well written and soundly researched. A first class study, on a comparative basis, of anti-terrorist legislation in western democracies."--John F. Murphy, School of Law, Villanova University
"This is an insightful book that moves gracefully from fact to theory and tells some dramatic stories in between. At a time when comparativists are once again recognizing the importance of institutions and constitutions, this book is an especially important contribution to the study of politics."--Nancy Bermeo, Princeton University
"Finn's important book is in the tradition of Corwin, Rossiter, Friedrich, but he has asked questions they left unresolved. A provocative work, this will be the leading study in the field for years to come."--Walter F. Murphy, Princeton University
Review
"[An] exciting study of how constitutional systems cope with political violence....Finn advances his argument not only persuasively and with great clarity but also with passion."--Times Higher Education Supplement
"A very useful study of constitution-maintenance in extreme situations....Searching scholarship and alertness to the terrible distorting demands of political self-preservation are especially prominent here. Recommended for all college and university collections as well as libraries seeking to serve informed general readers."--Choice
"Well written and soundly researched. A first class study, on a comparative basis, of anti-terrorist legislation in western democracies."--John F. Murphy, School of Law, Villanova University
"This is an insightful book that moves gracefully from fact to theory and tells some dramatic stories in between. At a time when comparativists are once again recognizing the importance of institutions and constitutions, this book is an especially important contribution to the study of politics."--Nancy Bermeo, Princeton University
"Finn's important book is in the tradition of Corwin, Rossiter, Friedrich, but he has asked questions they left unresolved. A provocative work, this will be the leading study in the field for years to come."--Walter F. Murphy, Princeton University
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 255-263) and index.