UN Interventions and Democratization: Case Studies of States in Political Transition

This book analyzes United Nations (UN) interventions in the process of constitution making in states undergoing political change. It combines theoretical considerations of democracy and constitutionalism with empirical experiences and takes a critical perspective on the interventions developed by the United Nations in the processes of re-democratization. Presenting new empirical evidence on the substantive and procedural way in which the UN undertakes constitution building in Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and East Timor, the book illustrates difficulties of these practices such as the promotion of popular participation, as well as an increasing Westernization, and to meet local needs. In consequence, the authors call for reforms of the actions and structural methods the UN to better align a legitimate constitutional order with the rule of law and democratic values. This book is aimed at scholars and students of politics and law who are interested in the prerequisites and conditions for further democratization in states undergoing political transformation.