The Gap from Parchment to Practice: Ambivalent Effects of Constitutions in Democratizing Countries American University, Washington, DC, May 28-­‐29, 2013 Tuesday, May 28, School of International Service, Founder’s Room 8:30-­‐9:15 Light breakfast 9:15 -­‐ 9:30 Welcome from James Goldgeier, School of International Service (SIS), and Barbara Romzek, School of Public Affairs (SPA) Theoretical and Empirical Questions I 9:30 “New Constitutions and Democracy: an Overview” Robert Albro, Todd Eisenstadt, Carl LeVan, American University DISCUSSANTS: Joel Barkan, Center for Strategic and International Studies and Michael Coppedge, University of Notre Dame Theoretical and Empirical Questions II – Moderated by Todd Eisenstadt of American University 10:30 “Can We Trust Legislators to Write Constitutions?” Zachary Elkins, University of Texas – Austin DISCUSSANT: Ernesto Calvo, University of Maryland Theoretical and Empirical Questions III – Moderated by Carl LeVan of American University 11:30 “Bringing Insights from Corporate Governance to the Study of Constitution Making” Jennifer Widner, Princeton University DISCUSSANT: Jon Gould, American University 12:30-­‐1:45 LUNCH AT MARY GRAYDON CENTER Cases and Regions I: Northern Andes – Moderated by Agustina Giraudy of Harvard University 1:45 “Deepening Democracy via Constitutional Change? Contrasting Colombia and Venezuela” Ana Maria Bejarano , University of Toronto and Renata Segura, Social Science Research Council DISCUSSANT: Matthew Taylor, American University 2:45 “Venezuela: Between ta Bolivarian Constitution and the Authoritarian Populism of Hugo Chávez” Nelly Arenas, Central University of Venezuela DISCUSSANT: Miriam Kornblith, National Endowment for Democracy 3:45 COFFEE BREAK Cases and Regions II: African Cases – Moderated by Ryan Briggs of American University 4:00 “Constitutional Legitimacy and the Dimensions of Participatory Constitution-­‐Making” Devra Moehler and Eleanor Marchant, University of Pennsylvania DISCUSSANT: Gina Lambright, George Washington University 5:00 “Constitution-­‐making and Democracy in Mali: The Unraveling of a Democratic Model” Susanna Wing, Haverford College DISCUSSANT: Adrienne LeBas, American University Wednesday, May 29, School of International Service, Founder’s Room 8:30-­‐9:15 Light breakfast Cases and Regions III: Bolivia’s Bold Experiment – 9:15 “Constituent Power from Below in Bolivia? Implications of Rights-­‐based Conflict in the New Constitutional Era” Robert Albro, American University DISCUSSANT: Miguel Centellas, University of Mississippi 10:15 “Refounding ‘halfway’ in Bolivia: the Consolidation of a Hybrid Democracy after the Promulgation of the 2009 Plurinational Constitution” Diego Ayo, Universidad Catolica de Bolivia DISCUSSANT: Katie Kuhn, George Washington University Cases and Regions IV: Egypt and Middle East – Moderated by Diane Singerman of American University 11:15 “Bringing the Constitution Online: The Struggle over Egypt’s New Constitution” Ghazal Poshtkouhian Nadi and Tofigh Maboudi, American University DISCUSSANT: Nathan Brown, George Washington University 12:15-­‐1:30 LUNCH 1:30 “Constitutionalizing Islam: Variations in Religion-­‐State Relationships among Muslim Countries” Shaheen Mozaffar, Bridgewater State University DISCUSSANT: Kristin Diwan, American University Conclusions: Moderated by Eric Hershberg of American University 2:30-­‐4:00 Roundtable: “Understanding the Ambiguous Impacts of New Constitutions on Democracy” Robert Albro, Todd Eisenstadt, Zackary Elkins, Carl LeVan, Jennifer Widner We wish to extend special thanks to Dean James Goldgeier (SIS), and Dean Barbara Romzek (SPA) for their support of this event, as well as to our teaching unit directors Clarence Lusane, Comparative and Regional Studies (SIS) and Candice Nelson, Government Department (SPA). Organization of the event would not have been possible if not for the enthusiastic, resourceful, and able assistance of GOVT Staff Member Nicole Siegel (SPA) and CRS Staff Member Brittany Stewart (SIS). At the Latin American Studies Association, we thank Milagros Pereyra-­‐Rojas, Sandra Louise Klinzing, and Pilar Rodriguez for managing the project as part of their Mellon-­‐LASA program, and for integrating our program into the 2013 LASA conference (May 29-­‐June 2, 2013 in Washington, D.C.). Dr. Ryan Briggs (PhD defended in March 2013) and Doctoral student Ghazal Poshtkouhian Nadi led data gathering efforts.