Transformative Constitutionalism: Its Emergence and Evolution

Year 2024, Issue: 59, 205 - 232, 12.07.2024

Mehmet Nuri Güzel

https://doi.org/10.54049/taad.1515034

Abstract

Abstract
The traditional understanding of constitutionalism approaches constitutionalism in negative terms. According to negative constitutionalism approaches, the aim of constitutionalism is to limit political power. Positive constitutionalism seeks to institutionalize the state with the capacity to effectively promote the welfare of its members through adherence to constitutional principles. Transformative constitutionalism, which aims to transform society, and in particular to achieve social justice, through non-violent and law-based political processes, is in this respect an approach to positive constitutionalism.
The concept of transformative constitutionalism, which emerged in the context of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, has been used in different contexts in different places and times. This makes it possible to consider it as an umbrella term. The fact that the countries associated with transformative constitutionalism do not necessarily share all the distinctive features of the concept allows it to be treated as a polythetic category.
Transformative constitutionalism emerged out of the need to explicitly target and eliminate structures that cause and reinforce inequality. It aims at peaceful social transformation and social justice. It requires a constitution with transformative goals and a transformation of the legal culture. Social and economic rights also have an important place.
Even if they differ for each country, transformative constitutionalism experiences and transformative constitutions contain considerations that can be taken into account for the ongoing constitution-making debates in our country.

Keywords

Constitutionalism, negative constitutionalism, positive constitutionalism, transformative constitution, transformative constitutionalism

Ethical Statement

This article is not subject to Ethics Committee permission.

DÖNÜŞTÜRÜCÜ ANAYASACILIK: ORTAYA ÇIKIŞI VE EVRİMİ

Abstract

Yaygın anayasacılık anlayışı, anayasacılığa negatif terimlerle yaklaşmaktadır. Negatif anayasacılık yaklaşımlarına göre anayasacılığın amacı siyasi iktidarı sınırlamaktır. Pozitif anayasacılık ise devleti, anayasal ilkelere bağlılık yoluyla üyelerinin refahını etkin bir şekilde teşvik etme kapasitesiyle kurumsallaştırmayı amaçlar. Şiddet içermeyen ve hukuka dayalı siyasi süreçler yoluyla, toplumun dönüştürülmesini ve özellikle sosyal adaletin sağlanmasını amaçlayan dönüştürücü anayasacılık da bu açıdan bir pozitif anayasacılık yaklaşımıdır.
Güney Afrika Cumhuriyeti Anayasası bağlamında ortaya çıkan dönüştürücü anayasacılık kavramı, farklı mekân ve zamanlarda, farklı bağlamlarda kullanılmıştır. Bu durum onu, bir üst kavram olarak değerlendirmeye olanak sağlamaktadır. Dönüştürücü anayasacılıkla ilişkilendirilen ülkelerin, bu kavramın tüm ayırt edici özelliklerini paylaşmak zorunda olmaması ise bu kavramı çok yönlü bir kategori olarak ele almaya imkân vermektedir.
Dönüştürücü anayasacılık, eşitsizliğe neden olan ve eşitsizlikleri güçlendiren yapıların açıkça hedef alınması ve ortadan kaldırılması ihtiyacı üzerine ortaya çıkmıştır. Barışçıl bir toplumsal dönüşümü ve sosyal adaletin sağlanmasını amaçlamaktadır. Dönüştürücü hedefler içeren bir anayasaya sahip olmayı ve hukuk kültüründe dönüşümü gerektirir. Ayrıca sosyal ve ekonomik haklar da önemli bir yere sahiptir.
Her ülke için farklılık gösterse bile dönüştürücü anayasacılık deneyimleri ve dönüştürücü anayasalar, ülkemizde devam eden anayasa yapımı tartışmaları için dikkate alınabilecek hususlar barındırmaktadır.

Keywords

Anayasacılık, negatif anayasacılık, pozitif anayasacılık, dönüştürücü anayasa, dönüştürücü anayasacılık

Ethical Statement

Bu makale Etik Kurul iznine tabi değildir.

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