About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

2006 Lawasia J. 227 (2006)
The Relationship between Economic Transition and Constitutional Government: The Experience of the Republic of Maldives

handle is hein.journals/lawasiaj7 and id is 233 raw text is: Economic Transition & Constitutional Government: Republic of Maldives THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ECONOMIC TRANSITION AND CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES Athaulla A Rasheed* The present study describes the relationship between the institutional arrangement of a state and its economy with a view to explaining the situations of developing countries, notably the Maldives. In the light of economic theories introduced and developed by both theorists of economics and law, it could be said that the economic situation of a state has a significant impact on its constitutional government. The constitutional government of a state determines how the institutions set out by its constitution will operate. The human society that forms an economy will gradually change as technology advances and, eventually, the constitutional government will also have to change to accommodate the new values and rights that have been introduced to the society. The Maldives is a developing country currently undergoing political, economic and institutional changes. During the past two decades, the Maldives has undergone much economic progress without the associated developments in its political and legal structures. The country is in the process of developing its political and legal framework by introducing democratic amendments to its present constitutional government and we can see that these changes to institutional arrangements have been driven by economics. Economic changes have brought about political changes. I INTRODUCTION This paper examines the nature of the constitutional government of the Maldives using an economic approach. The main purpose of the paper is to demonstrate that the constitutional government of the Maldives is in an evolving state and that the country's economy is responsible for the changes which are occuring. The constitutional government represents the way in which a state establishes and maintains its political order under rule of law.' There are different institutions in a state, responsible for sustaining political stability as well as achieving 'individual freedom, economic growth and social progress'2 in that state. The constitutional government reflects on the operation of these institutions. One of the main institutions is the formal Constitution. These institutions shape human interactions in a society and they 'structure incentives in human exchange, whether political, social or economic. Institutional change Master of Applied Law graduate from The University of Queensland, Australia. The author would like to thank Anthony Somers Vine for his kind assistance during the editing process of this article. 1 Suri Ratnapala, 'Securing Constitutional Government: The Perpetual Challenge' (2003) 8(1) The Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy 5-22. 2 US Department of State, Outline of US Government (2000) ch 1, <http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/outusgov/chl .htm> at 1 November 2006.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most