Workshop on Buddhism and Comparative Constitutional Law: Chicago, IL Fall 2019

这个拟议的研讨会有望开辟一个新的子领域比较宪法研究。关于伊斯兰教与宪政之间的关系，有大量丰富的文献，关于教会法在西方法律的传统中的中心地位，也有更古老的历史文献。一般来说，关于佛教法律的著作很少，尤其是关于宪法思想的著作。当佛教徒在许多国家的宪政中发挥重要作用时，这一点尤其成问题。到目前为止，政策分析和学术研究还没有充分考虑到佛教行为者和机构在宪法的实践、概念化和形成方面日益增长的重要性。因此，这次研讨会及其成果将有助于在今后几年中为政策理解这两大力量的相互作用提供信息。该研讨会将出版和合作，支持新的研究人员，并确定一个明确的研究议程，在学术界和政策界研究佛教和公法。会议由两名分别在宪法的政治和比较方法以及佛教的历史和社会科学研究方面具有互补培训和专门知识的学者共同主持，将由六个小组组成，汇集法律和社会法律研究学者以及政治、历史和宗教学者，包括研究生和早期职业学者。小组成员将产生对佛教和宪法的原始研究，特别是亚洲司法管辖区，同时也反映了从比较的角度，包括国际法，美国和亚洲宪法，以及其他传统的宗教法（印度教法，伊斯兰教法，佳能法）。 其中一个小组将把当代宪政实践和政治置于世纪以前亚洲历史的较长跨度中，在该地区丰富的历史背景下讨论宪政现状。该研讨会将产生一个突出的系列和期刊部分编辑卷，同时也支持研究生指导和告知政策制定。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

This proposed workshop promises to open up a new subfield in comparative constitutional studies. There is a large and rich literature on the relationship between Islam and constitutionalism, and an older historical literature on the central place of Canon law in the Western legal tradition. Writing on Buddhist law is scarce in general, and especially so with regard to constitutional thought. This is particularly problematic when Buddhist actors are playing an important role in the constitutional politics of many countries. To date, policy analysis and scholarship has not fully grappled with the growing importance of Buddhist actors and institutions on the practice, conceptualization and formation of constitutional law. This workshop and its outputs will therefore help inform policy understandings of the interaction of these two major forces in years to come. This workshop will produce publications and collaborations, supporting new researchers and identifying a clear research agenda for studying Buddhism and public law both within the academy and the policy community. Co-chaired by two scholars with complementary training and expertise--in political and comparative approaches to constitutional law and historical and social scientific study of Buddhism, respectively--it will consist of six panels, bringing together scholars of law and socio-legal studies with scholars of politics, history and religion, including graduate students and early-career scholars. Panelists will produce original research on Buddhism and constitutional law in particular Asian jurisdictions, while also reflecting from comparative perspectives, including international law, American and Asian constitutional law, and other traditions of religious law (Hindu law, Islamic law, Canon law). One panel will place contemporary constitutional practice and politics in a longer span of pre-nineteenth-century Asian history, grounding discussions of the constitutional present in the region's rich historical settings. The workshop will produce an edited volume in a prominent series and a journal section, while also supporting graduate student mentoring and informing policy-making.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.