The aristocracy of all
Gargarella or the constitutionalism of equality
Keywords:
Roberto Gargarella, Latin-American constitutionalism, equality, John Rawls, the difference principle, public administrationAbstract
In this comment to the brilliant book on the Constitutionalism in Latin-America, Gargarella (2015), it is accepted that perhaps is the equality the empty promise among the ideals of constitutionalism in this region of the world. It is also accepted that an important part of the reason for this absence of equality lies in the institutional design, in the engine room of the Constitution, concretely in an hypertrophy of presidentialism. A complementary suggestion is added: the ideal of a constitutional democracy presupposes the existence of a State with an autonomous, efficient, professional and robust public Administration. Only with a well-designed tax system and an Administration apt to carry out the proper functions it is possible to build a well-ordered society in which the Rawlsian Difference Principle is respected and honoured.
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