Dear CCCS community,
Federal systems have always struggled to work within the straitjacket of constitutional theory developed for unitary states. At a time when countries across the world are turning to forms of multi-level government to solve pressing problems, theories adapted to the distinctive needs of federal government are more important than ever. Stephen Tierney’s exploration of The Federal Contract seeks to fill this gap. It could not be more timely and welcome.
The Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies is honoured to host a seminar to launch Stephen Tierney’s new book The Federal Contract: A Constitutional Theory of Federalism, as part of the CCCS Global Public Law Seminar Series.
In rethinking the idea and practice of federalism, Stephen Tierney’s book adopts a root and branch recalibration of the federal contract. It analyses federalism through the conceptual categories which characterise the nature of modern constitutionalism: Foundations, Authority, Subjecthood, Purpose, Design and Dynamics. It seeks to explain
and in so doing revitalise federalism as a discrete, capacious and adaptable concept of rule that can be deployed imaginatively to facilitate the deep territorial variety that characterises so many states in the 21st century.
For this seminar and to mark the launch of the book, Professor Tierney will be joined by five leading scholars of federalism from across the world to explore the important ideas developed in this new work. All are welcome to join this discussion, with Professor Eva Maria Belser, Professor Peter Niesen, Professor Nicholas Aroney, Dr Asanga Welikala and Professor Cheryl Saunders to reflect on federalism, constitutionalism and the state in the 21st century.
Professor Cheryl Saunders will chair the event and formally launch the book.
This webinar is being delivered live at 5.30pm AEST on Monday 6 June 2022.
The webinar will be recorded.