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A frequent criticism of contemporary political science is that empirical research too seldom is combined with in-depth inquiry into the philosophical, historical, and legal foundations of the societies it seeks to understand. Others suggest that political scientists specializing in U.S. government too rarely collaborate with those who study other countries. The contributions in this volume belie these claims. The authors, all colleagues, students, and friends of Henry W. Ehrmann, represent the U.S., France, Germany, and Canada, the four countries in which Dr. Ehrmann has lived. The essays reflect the breadth and scope of Ehrmann's work as a teacher, scholar, and political activist. The contributions to this volume cover a broad range of topics, among them political theory and methodology of comparative politics and the interrelationships of economic, social, historical, and political developments, and include theoretically oriented studies of such problems as interest group politics, political culture, and parties. Integrating constitutional law and political philosophy with comparative sociological and historical research and theory, Henry Ehrmann's approach to teaching and research sets an excellent example for the contemporary study of political science.

Far from the well-ordered, solemn conference some might think of, the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was filled with disagreements, debates, and near-disasters. Yet, the framers of the Constitution pushed on to save the new nation from falling apart. The result was the remarkable document the United States government still uses as its foundation. Readers of this accessible book, perfect for struggling readers, will learn the story of the convention, who showed up, who didn't, and the final fight for ratification. Historical images shed light on the time period. Fact boxes add further interesting details about this important event.

Explaining the beginning of constitutional negotiations -- Explaining the outcomes of constitutional negotiations before the fall of the Soviet Union -- Yeltsin's missed opportunity? -- Constitutional bargaining within congressional institutions after the fall of the Soviet Union -- Explaining the breakdown of constitutional negotiations.

How does constitutional history influence contemporary peace processes and constitution-making? In this article, I focus on constitutional touchstones as an approach to studying the influence of constitutional history on contemporary efforts at peace and constitutional reform. A constitutional touchstone is a document that articulates alternative constitutional proposals and is a symbolic resource in discussions of constitutional reform. These documents keep alive opposition constitutional aspirations. Through successive peace processes – some that come to substantive agreements and others that fail – constitutional touchstones articulate future visions for reform and emerge as a reference point for political dialogue on peace and constitutional reform. Through the case of Myanmar, I consider the role and function of constitutional touchstones in peace processes and constitution-making. I focus primarily on the debate over federalism because of its salience to attempts to transform conflict through constitutional means. Through an ethnographic approach, I show how Myanmar's history of peace processes can be understood in four stages and the way constitutional touchstones have influenced the contemporary peace process. Constitutional touchstones are important considerations that shape the terms of a peace process and condition, though do not necessarily determine, the acceptable limits of the outcome of constitutional reform. Presenting an alternative view to the idea that constitution-makers and peace negotiators in a globalized age are primarily focused on best practise or the most suitable comparative models, I draw attention to the ongoing salience and social life of past constitutional debates in contemporary peace processes.