BMET 27A25 - The Judicialization of Politics and the Global Spread of American Constitutionalism

BMET 27A25 · Spring semester 2025-2026

Language of tuition
English
Course type
Atelier
Number of hours
24
Credits
3

Information

Description

In this course we will study the intersection of law and politics, with a focus on the United States and the export of American constitutionalism around the world. Why has the American judicial model been adopted so widely, and what are the practical implications of this trend for democratic politics? We will consider empirical evidence on the role of law, ideology, and strategy in judicial decision-making, and take an in-depth look at the interactions between the courts and other political actors. We will conclude with a discussion of the instrumentalization of law and legal concepts in social movements and political mobilization.

Assessment

  • Participation 10%
  • Discussion Leader (3 x 15% = 45%
  • Final Essay 45%

Readings

Main readings 1

  1. Caldeira, Gregory A (ed.), Kelemen, R. Daniel (ed.), Whittington , Keith E. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Law and Politics; (2008) Oxford University Press.

    Read online

Further readings 4

  1. Ginsberg , Tom and Versteeg , Mila. Why Do Countries Adopt Constitutional Review? (2014) Journal of Law, Economics and Organization 587. Kim , Dongwook and Nolette, Paul. The Institutional Foundations of the Uneven Global Spread of Constitutional Courts (2023) Cambridge University Press

  2. Perino, Michael A. Law, Ideology, and Strategy in Judicial Decision-Making: Evidence from Securities Fraud Actions (2006) Journal of Empirical Legal Studies

    Read online

  3. Rachlinski , J.J. Judging the Judiciary by the Numbers: Empirical Research on Judicial Behavior (2017) Cornell Law Review

    Read online

  4. ThomasThe , Tracy A. Long History of Feminist Legal Theory (2021) The Oxford Handbook of Feminism and Law in the United States

    Borrow

Teaching units

Unit no.Unit type Teaching unitsTeachers Number of hoursCredits
59311Atelier The Judicialization of Politics and the Global Spread of American Constitutionalism Albert CASTLE243

Teachers

  • Albert CASTLE

In the curricula

Contacts and resources

Contact
GUIBORAT Célia