Episode 2 - Languages and Comparative Constitutional Method

This episode of the podcast focuses on an underexplored theme in comparative constitutional law methodology: how languages shape the legal research in the field. The point of departure of the conversation is whether being proficient in a foreign language is required to engage in comparative constitutional law. The four speakers (Rosalind Dixon, Berihun Gebeye, Melissa Crouch and Francesco Palermo) are all established or emerging constitutional law scholars who have extensively worked and researched comparatively. They share their wide expertise and insights on the issue, and suggest that languages are not necessarily a barrier, as there are strategies that can be employed to overcome the lack of knowledge of a foreign language. The episode also touches upon related issues such as legal translations and foreign legal cultures.