Towards a Global Constitutional Gene Pool

建構全球憲法基因庫

本文旨在由全球憲政經驗的角度來發展比較憲法的方法論。首先，本文藉由回顧比較法文獻、並且考量憲法領域的特殊性，分析出比較憲法方法論所面臨的挑戰。異/同的二分法、比較的方式、體系分類、文化衝擊以及多元主義，都是受到挑戰的憲法比較方法。本文在第二部分進一步主張，當代憲政主義賴以運作的條件，包括國際化、全球化的過程以及資訊科技的進步，對比較憲法的方法亦有影響。雖然當代已有不少規範趨同的呼聲，但也有論者主張差異與多元，因而產生方法論上的新難題。本文最後提出比較憲法方法論的建議，希望能促成後續的研究與對話。

This essay aims to develop the methodology of comparative constitutional law in a way that draws more comprehensively on world constitutional experience. It proceeds in two stages. The first part identifies key methodological challenges for comparative constitutional law, drawing on the literature of comparative law, while taking account of the distinctive character of constitutional law. The challenges examined here are the dichotomy between similarity and difference; the approach to the task of comparison; taxonomy; the impact of culture; and pluralism. The second part of the argument considers the impact on comparative constitutional method of the conditions in which Constitutions operate in the early 21st century, including internationalisation, globalisation and advances in information technology. This part of the essay aims to show that, while there are considerable contemporary pressures for convergence, with implications for comparative method, other forces foster difference and pluralism, creating new methodological challenges. The essay concludes with a series of propositions for the methodology of comparative constitutional law, as a platform for further research and dialogue.