Global Constitutional Narratives of Autonomous Regions: The Constitutional History of Macau

This book explores the circumstances surrounding Macau's less-understood half of China's one country, two systems (OCTS) policy, including the stagnation of representational government and the location of Macau characteristics in the Macau Basic Law. It utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct a balanced constitutional narrative, focusing on the assimilation of a long-standing and unique constitutional order by a new hegemonic sovereign, including processes for internationalization, legal harmonization, juridification of local affairs, and democratization.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 26 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

With the world's attention firmly fixed on Hong Kong, many tend to overlook the fact that Macau exists in a delicate balance with mainland China, operating under the one country, two systems (OCTS) framework. This book offers valuable insights into the less-understood half of China's OCTS policy, delving into issues such as the stagnation of representational government and the location of any Macau-specific characteristics in the Macau Basic Law.

Despite being Hong Kong's sister Special Administrative Region (SAR) within the People's Republic of China, Macau's unique constitutional development under Portuguese and Chinese administration remains relatively underappreciated, despite its potential contributions to local, national, and international constitutional discourse. To address this gap, this work employs a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from doctrinal, historical, and comparative methodologies. The research seamlessly blends Portuguese, Chinese, and foreign-language sources to reconstruct a balanced constitutional narrative. The book specifically focuses on a consequential effect of globalization, namely, the assimilation of a long-standing and unique constitutional order by a new hegemonic sovereign. This includes processes such as internationalization as China opened up, legal harmonization of two distinct legal and socioeconomic orders, juridification of local affairs with the establishment of a new local court system in preparation for handover to the Chinese regime, and democratization (or the lack thereof) among the various communities comprising the Macanese polity before and since.

Focusing on Macau's unique development at the crossroads of European and Chinese empires, and its role as a mirror for Chinese intentions towards Hong Kong today, this book will be of interest to scholars and practitioners working in constitutional law, politics, and history. By examining the complexities and nuances of Macau's constitutional journey, this book sheds light on the broader implications of China's OCTS policy and its impact on the region and beyond.

Weight: 372g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367694753