Coping with conflict at constitutional moments

The theme of this paper is the dynamics through which politicalorder and organized government is constituted and reconstitutedin democratic contexts. Key questions are how basic politicalrules evolve and change and the possible significance of reflection,deliberate design and explicit constitutional policy. In democraciesa focus on reflection and choice requires an understanding ofhow political support is mobilized and acquiescence, agreementand allegiance are achieved. It is important to analyze howconstitution making may turn a political system with enduringtensions and conflicts into an organized system of democraticgovernance, cooperation and problem solving.