{"title":"William Partlett","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Partlett\u003c\/strong\u003e offers insightful explorations into constitutional law and politics, inviting readers to engage deeply with the frameworks that shape nations. His works provide clear, accessible analyses that illuminate complex legal principles within contemporary political contexts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIdeal for those interested in \u003cem\u003ePolitics \u0026amp; Current Affairs\u003c\/em\u003e or seeking authoritative \u003cem\u003eEducation \u0026amp; Reference\u003c\/em\u003e materials, Partlett's books serve as valuable guides to understanding the significance and impact of constitutional governance around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-peoples-guide-to-the-australian-constitution-by-rosalind-dixon-9781761170515","title":"The People's Guide to the Australian Constitution","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEverything you need to know about the Australian Constitution  its past, present and future.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe People's Guide to the Australian Constitution\u003c\/i\u003e illustrates how, far from being an unchangeable, technical legal contract, the Australian Constitution gives people the power to participate in and decide the shape of government and the policies it adopts. Leading legal academics Rosalind Dixon and William Partlett shed light on what Governor-General John Kerr did not acknowledge about the Constitution when he dismissed the Whitlam government, the tension between Australia's Christian settler-colonial constitutional identity and the recognition of First Nations peoples, the advantages and risks of constitutional change and much more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt almost 125 years old, Australia's Constitution is one of the oldest in the world, and while this has brought stability, it also gives the Australian people an opportunity to participate in adapting it to changing times. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'If the Voice referendum has taught us anything, it is that there is a huge gap in civic education in this country. This book will foster better understanding of our Constitution and empower Australians to become more informed voters and citizens, which is a win for our democracy.'  Jennifer Robinson, Human Rights Lawyer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe People's Guide to the Australian Constitution\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eis a comprehensive and readable explanation of its history and working. A basic understanding of our\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eConstitution\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eis essential to our representative democracy. It is the legal infrastructure for the operation of our democracy, the maintenance of the rule of law, the limitation of official power and the protection of important freedoms.'  The Hon Robert French AC\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An important resource that inspires Australians toward a transformative, genuine sovereign democracy and understanding.'  Waskam Emelda Davis, Emeritus City of Sydney Councillor\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe People's Guide to the Australian Constitution\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e brings public power closer to the people. By celebrating the strengths and commitments embedded in our constitutional story, readers are invited to question, to understand, and to participate in the story of our nation, whilst offering a vital understanding of the legal guardrails that have shaped Australia. In Ros and William's skilled hands, we are empowered to claim our role in shaping the future of Australia's democracy.'  Liesl Tesch, Member of the Legislative Assembly and double Paralympian\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47288970051820,"sku":"9781761170515","price":22.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/d790f249b669ad7d3e29e45426e2ec2b.jpg?v=1770602518"},{"product_id":"why-the-russian-constitution-matters-by-william-partlett-9781509972197","title":"Why the Russian Constitution Matters","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis book challenges the common view that the Russian Constitution is a sham or a reflection of Russia’s authoritarian past.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt instead shows that the Russian Constitution was a product of the constitutional ‘dark arts’, an increasingly common constitutional practice that seeks to guarantee liberal democracy and individual rights in a system of highly centralised power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver time in Russia, the centralisation of power in the president has undermined the constitution’s democratic and rights protections. This Russian experience matters for three reasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFirst, it shows that Russian authoritarianism is neither the personal creation of Vladimir Putin nor a natural reflection of Russian history. It is instead the product of a centralised constitutional system. A democratic Russia is possible but requires more than just Putin leaving office—it also requires breaking with Russia’s constitutional commitment to centralisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSecond, it demonstrates the role that the constitutional dark arts play in populist authoritarianism around the world. In these contexts, centralisation allows one office to claim popular legitimacy and dominate politics while (generally falsely) also claiming to respect individual rights and democracy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThird, it reveals that democratic constitutions are more than legal texts enforced in court. They are more fundamentally political texts that create a balanced state with political checks on the centralisation of political power. These checks and balances do not just limit state power and protect rights; they also enable the state to better understand and advance the general well-being of its citizens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhy the Russian Constitution Matters\u003c\/em\u003e therefore provides critical guidance to those involved in building democracy in a post-Putin Russia. It is also important to those seeking to better understand the role that constitutions play in shaping both authoritarian and democratic politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47384214536428,"sku":"9781509972197","price":51.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/16744223482725.jpg?v=1773403292"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/william-partlett.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}