Conpedi Law Review (Jun 2016)

The Brazilian judiciary as Superego Society : A Critical About Encroachment Understanding the values ​​of a society

  • Elisa Helena Lesqueves Galante,
  • Adriano Sant’Ana Pedra

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 14
pp. 84 – 99

Abstract

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The main idea of this paper is to raise questions on the democratic character of “con- temporary constitutionalism”. In this sense, we present the ideas of four renowned scholars and the core of their theses, whose influence – especially in the “Latin world” – is undenia- ble. They are Manuel Atienza, Luigi Ferrajoli, Luis Prieto Sanchís and Gustavo Zagrebel- sky. Among the many differences that characterize them, their accounts have at least one thing in common: enthusiasm for the constitutional project. To that extent, they stress the normativity of the Constitution and the “civilizing feature” of constitutional values. We address several objections to this understanding, taking into consideration the fundamen- tal right to participate on political affairs, including issues related to substantive rights, which require political and moral developments. To do so, we must take seriously the fact of disagreement and the fact of pluralism as elements of the process of protection and realization of fundamental rights. These rights are also subject to a decision-making process.

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