Recent Experiments in Constitution Making Book

jucknow Jlniversity Studies in Political Science. Reqent Experiments IN Constitution Making BY B. M. SHARMAJM. A., P H . D. Author of Indian Federation, Federal Polity, Political and Modern Governments, etc., etc., Lecturer in Political Science, Luckiiow University. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY V. S. RAM, M. A., P H . D. Head of the Department of Political Science, Lucknow University. UPPER INDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE LTD., PUBLISHERS, LITERATURE PALACE, LUCKNOW. BY THE SAtyE AUTHOR f - PRICE. Rs. A. 1. The Indian Federation, with a Foreword by Dr. C. Y. Chintamani ... ... 10 2. Federal Polity, with a Foreword by the late Mr. A. Rangas warni lyengar ... 6 3. Mussolini ... ... ... 1 8 4. Dayanand ... ... ... 1 8 5. Political Theory and Modern Governments In Collaboration with Drs. V. S. Ram and E. Asirvatham, 3 vols. ... 15 In Collaboration with Dr. V. S. Ram 6. India and the League of Nations, with a Foreword by Sir K. V. Reddi ... 2 8 7. Elements of Civics ... ... ... 2 8. Indian Civics and Administration ... 2 8 INTRODUCTION This new and welcome addition to the Lucknoiv University Studies in Political Science, by Dr. Sharma is at once a contemporary history of Central and Southern Europe and of its topical political problems. This study of recent changes in the machinery of the States of Europe is based on a variety of political systems, authoritarian and democratic. Since the publi cation of BryceS Modern Democracies in 1 92 1, there has been a plethora of comparative studies of political systems. But the rapid and kalei doscopic changes taking place in Europe necessitate a new and up to date book for students of political science both with regard to the machinery and functions of government, particularly in the authoritarian j tes, of Italy, Germany and Russia. M Three quarters of a century ago, when John Stuart Mill wrote his famous classic Representative Government, it seemed to the men of his genera tion that a final and perfect form of government had been obtained, and that its theory had been authoritatively expressed. To-day the Liberalism of Mill has declined until its future is even des. paired of. New theories of the State deriving from Marx or from Mussolini hold sway on the minds of men. These do not aspire to the realisation of liberty but to efficiency in govern 2 ment and resulting well-being. Such a change In the political goal, we are assured, is a necessary consequence of modern industrialism and of the machine age. In the great period of constitution making in Europe that followed the World War, parlia mentary government was almost universally accepted part of the new machinery of Republi canism. Not all of these constitutions, however, have succeeded. Several, notably that of Germany, have been replaced by dictatorships. The three leading dictatorships of the present day i. e,, Italy, Germany and Russia are based on a system of ideas which give a sense of direction to the State and restrain dictators from indulging in purely whimsical rule. Dictatorship in these countries relies upon public opinion to a much greater degree than is supposed. It is not too much to say that the majority of the people in Russia, Italy and Germany support . their present leaders in the belief, which may or may not be well founded, that their leaders are more actuated by devotion to the national good than is the case in democratic countries. Dr. Sharma describes the story of National Socialism in Germany why it grew, how it arrived in power and with what motives and attitudes it now faces the tasks and wields the forces of the unified German State after the Anschluss with Austria. His description of the recent changes ir the governmental machinery is also admirable. . One sees in Nazi Germany a new Sparta. J Dr. Sharrha 3 traces the origins, growth, and functions of the Fascist State in Italy in a clear and succinct manner, alike of interest to students of political science as well as to the general reader....Read More