Full Description
This book analyses the Nordic constitutional systems of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in a comparative context. It has two main aims: first to fill a gap in the literature by providing an accessible English language account of the Nordic constitutions, and second to provide a comparative analysis of them, revealing their similarities and differences within their political, historical and cultural contexts. In this respect, the book challenges the assumption that the Nordic countries form a homogeneous constitutional system due to their cultural and historical affinities, a view not necessarily supported by a close comparative examination. A key issue is EU membership -where the Nordic countries have made different choices at different times - and the book will show how this has affected the individual countries and whether a divide between EU member states (Denmark, Finland and Sweden) and non-members (Iceland and Norway) has appeared. Another key issue is how the ECHR has impacted the Nordic constitutional systems and whether the convention draws the Nordic systems closer to each other. The book represents a first of its kind in the English language, and will provide constitutional scholars with a valuable comparative resource on the Nordic region.
Contents
1. Introduction
Helle Krunke and Björg Thorarensen
2. Common Roots of Nordic Constitutional Law? Some Observations on Legal-Historical Development and Relations between the Constitutional Systems of Five Nordic Countries
Markku Suksi
3. Institutions and Division of Powers
Thomas Bull
4. Mechanisms for Parliamentary Control of the Executive
Björg Thorarensen
5. Judicial Review of Legislation
Eivind Smith
6. Human Rights in Nordic Constitutions and the Impact of International Obligations
Tuomas Ojanen
7. Impact of the EU/EEA on the Nordic Constitutional Systems
Helle Krunke
8. Concluding Thoughts
Helle Krunke and Björg Thorarensen
