The Perilous State of Democracies Without a Constitution with Alon Tal

The Perilous State of Democracies Without a Constitution with Alon Tal Does democracy need a written constitution to survive -- and can having one sometimes be a problem? Britain and New Zealand have flourished for generations without a codified constitution. Israel tried the same experiment, but with far fewer institutional guardrails. The constitutional crisis of 2023–2026 offers a dramatic test of what happens when a determined government discovers just how few legal constraints stand in its way. Drawing on Israel’s experience, this lecture also asks an uncomfortable question for American lawyers as well: Which is more dangerous: a constitution that is too easy to change, or one that has become almost impossible to amend?