Judicial Activism in a Comparative Perspective

Fabian Schusser

doi:10.5771/9783845297446

Judicial Activism in a Comparative Perspective

The Supreme Court of India vs. the Bundesverfassungsgericht

Series: Moderne Südasienstudien - Modern South Asian Studies

Volume 7 1. Edition 2019

No access

doi.org/10.5771/9783845297446
ISBN print: 978-3-8487-5566-0
ISBN online: 978-3-8452-9744-6
Nomos, Baden-Baden Nomos, Baden-Baden

Buy in store

Abstract

This study investigates the phenomenon of judicial activism from a comparative perspective by examining the highest constitutional courts in India and Germany: the Supreme Court and the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) respectively. In addition to answering the question of what role these courts play in their countries’ political institutional set-ups, the study explains to what extent they can be classed as powerful. Historical neo-institutionalism forms the study’s theoretical basis, which it deploys in endeavouring to understand the courts’ development and in identifying critical junctures in their histories.

Zusammenfassung

Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht das Phänomen des juristischen Aktivismus in vergleichender Perspektive. Beleuchtet werden die obersten Verfassungsgerichte in Indien und Deutschland: Der Supreme Court und das Bundesverfassungsgericht. Neben der Frage, welche Rolle die Gerichte im politischen Institutionengefüge spielen, wird geklärt, inwieweit sie als mächtig einzustufen sind. Als theoretische Grundlage für die Arbeit dient der historische Neo-Institutionalismus. Mittels dieser Theorie wird die Entwicklung der beiden Institutionen nachvollzogen und kritische Punkte in ihrer Geschichte identifiziert.

Schlagworte

Chapter Expand | CollapsePage
1–22 Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis 1–22
23–29 1. Introduction 23–29
- 1.1. Aims and scope
- 1.2. Previous scholarship
- 1.3. Chapter outline
30–39 2. Theoretical framework 30–39
- 2.1. The puzzle: Measuring the power of courts
- 2.2. Institutions
- 2.3. Neo-institutionalism
  - 2.3.1. History of neo-institutionalism
  - 2.3.2. Streams within neo-institutionalism
  - 2.3.3. Historical institutionalism: Central concepts
  - 2.3.4. Criticism: Historical institutionalism and political change
- 2.4. Suitability of the theory
- 2.5. Method, analytic narrative
40–47 3. Judiciary 40–47
- 3.1. Constitutional courts
- 3.2. Judicial activism vs. judicial review
  - 3.2.1. Judicial interpretation
  - 3.2.2. Classical judicial review
  - 3.2.3. Judicial review in India
  - 3.2.4. Judicial review in Germany
48–89 4. The Supreme Court of India 48–89
- 4.1. Structure and organization
- 4.2. Tasks and competences
  - 4.2.1. Original jurisdiction
  - 4.2.2. Appellate jurisdiction
  - 4.2.3. Advisory jurisdiction
  - 4.2.4. Public Interest Litigation
- 4.3. Historical development
  - 4.3.1. The beginning of a new era: India and its new highest court
  - 4.3.3. Kesavananda Bharati and what the constitution really is: The Supreme Court and the Basic Structure Doctrine
  - 4.3.4. In the name of the people: The Public Interest Litigation
- 4.4. Political role
90–128 5. The German Bundesverfassungsgericht 90–128
- 5.1. Structure and organization
- 5.2. Tasks and competences
  - 5.2.1. Constitutional complaint
  - 5.2.2. The abstract and concrete judicial review
  - 5.2.3. Other proceedings
- 5.3. Historical development
  - 5.3.1. If there is law there shall be justice: The creation of the Bundesverfassungsgericht
  - 5.3.2. The first decades
  - 5.3.3. Battle Royale: The Bundesverfassungericht as a constitutional body
  - 5.3.4. The new Eastern politics of Willy Brandt and the BVerfG
- 5.4. Political role
129–143 6. Comparison and contrast of the two courts 129–143
- 6.1. Historical development and critical junctures
- 6.2. Jurisdiction
- 6.3. Judges and their appointment
- 6.4. Legitimization
- 6.5. Political role
144–152 7. Conclusion 144–152
- 7.1. Power of the courts
- 7.2. Judicial activism
- 7.3. Purpose of the courts
- 7.4. Suggestions for further research
153–164 8. Bibliography 153–164
165–169 Index 165–169

Durchsuchen Sie das Werk

Geben Sie ein Keyword in die Suchleiste ein