Constitutions are often expected to evolve with the times—but what happens when their texts are difficult to change? While many countries replace their constitutions to address new social and political realities, Japan and Taiwan have maintained highly stable constitutional frameworks since the Second World War. In this talk, Professor Shih-An Wang explores how these old or enduring constitutions confront emerging national security challenges in an age of shifting geopolitics. She will discuss how sub-constitutional instruments—such as statutes, administrative regulations, and legal interpretations—have quietly reshaped the constitutional landscape of national security in both countries. By comparing Japan’s and Taiwan’s approaches, Professor Wang will examine the effects of informal constitutional evolution for security and democracy in countries with enduring constitutions.

Shih-An Wang (JSD’ 2024; LLM’ 2019) is a Project Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Law, Kobe University, Japan. Her research interests lie at the intersection of comparative constitutional law, law and democracy, and national security affairs.

This event is cosponsored by the University of Chicago Law School's International Programs, Malyi Center for the Study of Institutional and Legal Integrity, and International Law Society.

Lunch will be provided. Please submit dietary requests eight business days prior to the program to Aican Nguyen at aican@uchicago.edu. Although we will try to accommodate dietary needs, it is not guaranteed.