Participatory constitution-making and why it matters: a review of the Egyptian experience

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Periodical article

Title:	Participatory constitution-making and why it matters: a review of the Egyptian experience
Author:	Owosuyi, Ifeoma Laura
Year:	2016
Periodical:	South African Journal of International Affairs (ISSN 1938-0275)
Volume:	23
Issue:	2
Pages:	201-223
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Egypt
Subjects:	constitutional law constitutions popular participation
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/10220461.2016.1210540
Abstract:	This article considers the making of Egypt's post-Mubarak constitution after considering the fact that participatory constitution-making is accepted as a democratic norm allowing citizens to be involved in the creation of their constitution and their future. The author argues that the process by which a constitution is made is crucial for the framing and legitimising of that constitution. Therefore, political elites and state institutions should not wholly control the process. The views of two schools of thought - idealism and realism - are considered. These views, together with the influence of the state and the concept of participation of the citizenry in the constitution-making process, are measured against international law requirements and further applied in a critical evaluation of Egypt's constitution-making process from 2011 to 2014. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]