Introduction to Part II: Genealogy, origins and world order

Part II of the volume outlines some of the origins, purposes and forms

of authority and power associated with liberal constitutions and world

orders. The two chapters help illuminate what is 'old' and 'new' in the

emerging new constitutional world order. They illustrate how historical

struggles have forged dominant patterns of political authority and are

now restructuring the global order. The main themes of Part II involve:

1. The genealogy of liberal constitutionalism, particularly that of the

United States.

2. How liberal constitutionalism can be understood as a form of insurance

on the part of dominant forces against threats to their power, privilege

and property, stemming from popular and democratic forces.

3. The recent global convergence toward constitutional supremacy in

light of the rapid spread of democratic politics.