Emergency Powers in Asia
Exploring the Limits of Legality

What role does, and should, legal, political, and constitutional norms play in constraining emergency powers, in Asia and beyond.

Victor V. Ramraj (Edited by), Arun K. Thiruvengadam (Edited by)

9780521768900, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 December 2009

530 pages
23.4 x 15.8 x 3 cm, 0.96 kg

'The role of emergency provisions in the constitutional order has generated a good deal of attention recently, but too often, the analysis is either abstract or focused on a single jurisdiction. Ramraj and Thiruvengadam have produced a wonderful comparative collection on the use and misuse of emergency powers in Asia. With its wide range of political regimes, constitutional traditions, and security challenges, Asia offers a fruitful environment to examine how policy makers and judges have grappled with emergencies, both real and imagined. Theoretically informed, empirically rich and conceptually nuanced, this volume is a major contribution to the ongoing debates on constitutionalism and security, and should be read throughout the region and beyond.' Tom Ginsburg, University of Chicago Law School

What is the relevance of contemporary debates over emergency powers for countries situated in Asia? What role does, and should, the constitution play in constraining these powers? The essays in this collection address these issues, drawing on emergency situations in over 20 countries in Asia as a ready-made laboratory for exploring the relationship between emergency powers and constitutionalism. This volume therefore rests squarely at the intersection of two debates – a debate over the ability of law to constrain the invocation and use of emergency powers by the executive in times of crisis, and a debate over the nature and viability of constitutionalism in Asia. At this intersection are fundamental questions about constitutionalism and the nature of the modern state, questions that invite legal, political, sociological and historical analysis.

1. Introduction: emergency powers and constitutionalism in Asia Victor V. Ramraj and Arun K. Thiruvengadam
Part I. Perspectives from Legal and Political Theory: 2. The emergency powers paradox Victor V. Ramraj
3. Emergency powers, constitutionalism and legal transplants: the East Asian experience Albert H. Y. Chen
4. Constitution and 'extraconstitution': colonial emergency regimes in postcolonial India and Pakistan Anil Kalhan
5. The princely imposter: stories of law and pathology in the exercise of emergency powers Vasuki Nesiah
Part II. Postcolonial and Post-Conflict Transitions: 6. From Myanmar to Manila: a brief study of emergency powers in Southeast Asia Kevin Y. L. Tan
7. Discourses of emergency in colonial and post-colonial Burma Maitrii Aung-Thwin
8. Emergency and Islamic law in Aceh Michelle Ann Miller and R. Michael Feener
9. UNaccountable? The United Nations, emergency powers and the rule of law in Asia Simon Chesterman
Part III. Emergencies, Executive Power and Constitutional Order: 10. Emergency powers and the rule of law in Indonesia Nadirsyah Hosen
11. Emergency powers with a moustache: special powers, military rule and evolving constitutionalism in Thailand Andrew Harding
12. Emergency powers and the limits of constitutional rule in Japan Mark Fenwick
13. States of exception in an exceptional state: emergency powers and law in China Jacques deLisle
Part IV. The Role of the Courts: 14. Constitutionalised emergency powers: a plague on constitutionalism? H. P. Lee
15. Political emergencies in the Philippines: changing labels and the unchanging need for legitimacy Raul Pangalangan
16. Islamism as a response to emergency rule in Pakistan: the surprising proposal of Justice A. R. Cornelius Clark B. Lombardi
17. Asian judiciaries and emergency powers: reasons for optimism? Arun K. Thiruvengadam.

Subject Areas: Jurisprudence & general issues [LA], Political science & theory [JPA], Black & Asian studies [JFSL3]