Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 308-327). Also available online.

Univ., Diss,--Groningen.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Department of Political Science, December 2000. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in the Internet.

Thesis--Wisconsin. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (LLM (Research))--Murdoch University, 2009. / Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Law and Business. Includes bibliographical references.

Originally presented as the author's Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Trier, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 327-344).

O Estado Democrático de Direito pressupõe uma relação harmoniosa e contínua entre Ética, Política e Direito. É com base nessa premissa que devem ser identificadas as funções estatais, as quais estão relacionadas a determinados planos de fins específicos e convergentes: o nível dos fins últimos (consenso), o nível dos fins intermediários (deliberação) e nível dos fins imediatos (execução). A estrutura da ordem jurídica também observa esses níveis, que podem ser ligados, respectivamente, à função jurisdicional constitucional, à função legislativa e à função jurisdicional ordinária. Essa última função tem o objetivo de aplicar o Direito, de modo imparcial, mediando a generalidade das leis com as particularidades dos casos concretos. O alcance de tal objetivo depende da organização institucional do Estado, pois são as instituições que permitem a adequação de cada função à sua finalidade precípua. No Brasil, o arranjo institucional tem prejudicado a atuação da justiça ordinária, com prejuízo também para o Estado Democrático de Direito. / The Rule of law assumes a harmonious and continuous relationship amongst the Ethics, the Politics and the Law. It is based on this premise that the state functions must be identified, functions which are related to certain levels of specific and convergent ends: the level of final ends (consensus), the level of intermediary ends (deliberation) and the level of immediate ends (execution). The structure of legal order also observes these levels, which may be connected, respectively, to the function of constitutional jurisdiction, to the legislative function and to the function of ordinary jurisdiction. This last function aims to apply the Law, impartially, mediating the generality of the statutes with the particularities of concrete cases. The reach of such objective depends on the institutional organization of the state, because it is the institutions that allow the adequacy of each function to its main purpose. In Brazil, the institutional arrangement has undermined the performance of the ordinary Courts, with loss also to the Rule of Law.

Peacebuilding efforts are ongoing around the globe today. However, in societies that have transitioned out of conflict and have a strong judiciary, potential exists to use innovative techniques to assist in those efforts. Termed divided societies, these countries which have conflict simmering under the surface may benefit from public interest litigation as a tool for peacebuilding in the region. As peacebuilding and public interest litigation share many of the same goals, litigation may be able to assist the society to more sustainably transition from a culture of conflict to a culture of peace. This paper details current scholarship on public interest litigation, peacebuilding, and post-conflict reconstruction, provides research findings of best practices for litigating from Northern Ireland and South Africa, and discusses the efficacy and limitations of public interest litigation as a tool for peacebuilding.

The study makes a descriptive and analytical study of the development of the dynamic concept of the rule of law with special reference to the African contribution. First, the study shows that the Diceyan concept of the rule of law was narrow and peculiar to the Western liberal legal culture, and that more specifically, the substantive content of the concept of the rule of law was limited to the first generation of human rights. In its international and African context the concept was expanded to include all three generations of human rights and also identified with the concepts of democracy and the right of peoples and nations to self-determination. The expanded concept came to be known as the Dynamic Concept of the rule of law. Secondly, the study traces the origins and development of the principle of equal rights and self-determination and their extension to all peoples and nations and shows that these rights are universal, not relative, as they derive from the inherent worth and dignity of the individual. Also, the study shows that in the African context the three generations of human rights have been interlinked, made inter-dependent, and then identified with the rule of law, human rights and the right of self-determination (perceived as a right to democratic self-governance). Hence, the worth and dignity of the human personality has been made the fountainhead of human rights and have been elevated to the substantive elements of the Dynamic Concept of the rule of law and the basis of the modern African Constitutional State. Under the Colonial Rule both the Diceyan and the dynamic concept of the rule of law were not recognised. Instead, Colonial and racist regimes tried to create alternative institutions of government which denied the oppressed peoples the right to democratic self-governance and independence. However, Colonial and oppressed peoples relied on the dynamic concept of the rule of law in their freedom struggles and in the elaboration of their policies. Hence, the constitutions of all the former colonies in southern Africa under discussion were to different degrees informed by the Dynamic Concept of the rule of law. / Constitutional, International and Indigenous Law / LL.D

Le contrôle de constitutionnalité, pour la plupart des juristes en Chine, incarne une problématique primordiale : celle de la définition des limites au pouvoir politique et de l'encadrement de la relation entre les gouvernants et les gouvernés. Néanmoins, la présentation du système actuel de contrôle de constitutionnalité en Chine et le constat des obstacles à son effectivité conduisent à des interrogations : pourquoi faut-il améliorer ce contrôle de constitutionnalité ? Comment faire respecter les valeurs sociales par les normes juridiques? Par quelle voie l'écart entre les normes et la réalité peut-il disparaître ? Dans le contexte de transformation de l'État et de tendance à la mondialisation, l'ordre juridique et la réalité sociale en Chine convergent dans l'affirmation du besoin d'un réel contrôle de constitutionnalité. La thèse montre ainsi dans un premier temps que ce dernier est justifié par les liens étroits qui le lient désormais non seulement à l'Etat de droit, mais aussi à la démocratie. Pour répondre à ce besoin, deux scénarios sont dans un second temps envisagés. Le premier, celui de la spécialisation du contrôle par l'institution d'un organe en ayant la charge exclusive, propose une voie d'évolution interne à l'Assemblée nationale populaire, qui s'accompagnerait d'une procédure plus complète qu'à l'heure actuelle. Le second est au contraire celui de l'autonomisation du contrôle de constitutionnalité par la mise en place d'une juridiction constitutionnelle et l'affirmation d'une jurisprudence constitutionnelle. / The majority of the chinese jurists hold the opinion of enforcing the constitutional review, in order to build a limited governement and to reduce the tension between the citizens and the governors. This thesis investigated why this system of constitutional review should be better evolved and how to improve its efficiency ? In order to answer these questions, this study of the constitutional review in China is trying to elucidate the relationship among the value, norms and reality of the Constitution. This study discussed the rule of law and the democratic transition which are the main constitutional values and exigences but have yet been penetrated into the norms because of some political objections. Therefore, we studied the development of the constitutional review in two scenarios. Firstly, we discussed designing a special organ and improving the procedural justice within the actual system; Secondly, we argued the possibilities of the establishment of a constitutional court in China with the affirmation of constitutionnal jurisprudence, as well as commented on the major ideas and suggestions related to it. The last scenario seems to be ambitious, but we might be able to find some roots in chinese judicial order.