Social and Economic Rights in Theory and Practice by Alviar García, Helena; Klare, Karl; Williams, Lucy A.;

Short description:

Since World War II, a growing number of jurisdictions in both the developing and industrialized worlds have adopted progressive constitutions that guarantee social and economic rights (SER) in addition to political and civil rights. Parallel developments have occurred at transnational level with the adoption of treaties that commit signatory states to respect and fulfil SER for their peoples.The book brings together internationally renowned experts in the field of social and economic rights to discuss a range of rights controversies from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Long description:

Since World War II, a growing number of jurisdictions in both the developing and industrialized worlds have adopted progressive constitutions that guarantee social and economic rights (SER) in addition to political and civil rights. Parallel developments have occurred at transnational level with the adoption of treaties that commit signatory states to respect and fulfil SER for their peoples.

This book is a product of the International Social and Economic Rights Project (iSERP), a global consortium of judges, lawyers, human rights advocates, and legal academics who critically examine the effectiveness of SER law in promoting real change in people’s lives. The book addresses a range of practical, political, and legal questions under these headings, with acute sensitivity to the racial, cultural, and gender implications of SER and the path-breaking SER jurisprudence now emerging in the "Global South".

The book brings together internationally renowned experts in the field of social and economic rights to discuss a range of rights controversies from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Contributors of the book consider specific issues in the litigation and adjudication of SER cases from the differing standpoints of activists, lawyers, and adjudicators in order to identify and address the specific challenges facing the SER community.

This book will be of great use and interest to students and scholars of comparative constitutional law, human rights, public international law, development studies, and democratic political theory.

Table of Contents:

Part 1: Perspectives  1. Critical Perspectives on Social and Economic Rights, Democracy and Separation of Powers, Karl Klare  2. Rights-Compromised or Rights-Savvy? The Use of Rights-Based Strategies to Advance Socio-Economic Struggles by Abahlali baseMjondolo, the South African Shack-Dwellers’ Movement, Jackie Dugard, Tshepo Madlingozi and Kate Tissington  3. Resource Questions in Social and Economic Rights Enforcement: A Preliminary View, Lucy A. Williams   Part 2: Global Social and Economic Rights Practice: Limitations and Openings   Part 2a: Latin America   4. Distribution of Resources Led by Courts: A Few Words of Caution, Helena Alviar García  5. Latin America Social Constitutionalism: Courts and Popular Participation, Natalia Angel-Cabo and Domingo Lovera Parmo  6. Deliberative Democracy, Dialogic Justice and the Promise of Social and Economic Rights, Roberto Gargarella  7. Between Activism and Deference: Social Rights Adjudication in the Brazilian Supreme Federal Tribunal, Octavio Luiz Motta Ferraz   Part 2b: India   8. The Tension Between Property Rights and Social and Economic Rights: A Case Study of India, Namita Wahi  9. Claiming the Right to Safe Motherhood Through Litigation: The Indian Story, Sukti Dhital and Jayshree Satpute  Part 2c: South Africa  10. Democratising the Socio-Economic Rights-Enforcement Process, Lilian Chenwi 11. The Scope of the Judicial Role in the Enforcement of Social and Economic Rights: Limits and Possibilities Viewed From the South African Experience, Dennis M. Davis  Part 2d: Canada  12. Inclusive Interpretations: Social and Economic Rights and the Canadian Charter, Bruce Porter  Part 3: Looking Forward  13. Adjudicating Social and Economic Rights: Can Democratic Experimentalism Help?, Sandra Liebenberg and Katharine G. Young  14. The Constitutionalisation of Social and Economic Rights, Colm O’Cinneide  15. Constitutionally Binding Social and Economic Rights As a Compelling Idea: Reciprocating Perturbations in Liberal and Democratic Constitutional Visions, Frank I. Michelman