South Asian Constitutionalism? A contemporary pathway towards an authentic constitutional order

Abstract

Constitutional law studies have predominantly focused on legal experiences covering only part of the phenomenon of constitutionalism, in spite of an increasing interest in Asian legal systems, no longer considered ‘younger sisters’ or mere ‘carbon copies’ of Western law. This essay introduces the federal setup as provided by the Indian Constitution, emphasizing a few relevant aspects which seem necessary to understand the territorial organization of power, i.e. the system of government and the judiciary. The third part of the text deals with the main political historical events that have influenced the Nepalese legal system and its contemporary evolution. The conclusion explains why South Asian constitutionalism and its vibrant legal systems offer, now, useful instruments for the construction of general legal theory as well as an attractive toolkit for the management of social conflicts.