Introduction, 1 Ius Constitutionale Commune en América Latina: A Regional Approach to Transformative Constitutionalism

This contribution introduces the multiple dimensions of Ius Constitutionale Commune en América Latina (ICCAL or Ius Constitutionale Commune), a regional approach in transformative constitutionalism. The concerns and normative commitments that drive this project are addressed. To this end, the complicated Latin American reality is given center stage: The role of law in society, the role of courts, the state of democracy, and the effects of corruption and private power. Considering that Latin America is a region where constitutionalism is very much alive and fiercely debated, ICCAL is situated in the rich regional constitutionalist discourse. Its similarities and differences with other strands of constitutionalism, namely neoconstitutionalism and the new Latin American constitutionalism, are explained.