New faces at the Faculty—Introducing Introducing Dr Ignacio Giuffré
Originally from Argentina, Dr Ignacio Giuffré brings his expertise in constitutionalism and deliberative democracy to both Aotearoa and the Faculty of Law.
After completing his law degree in Mendoza, Ignacio began his career as a legal adviser in the legislature and then a clerk in the Supreme Court. During this time, he completed a postgraduate specialisation in Constitutional Law, followed by a Master of Legal Theory in Genoa and a Master of Constitutional Law in Madrid. He later undertook his PhD in Barcelona and subsequently held a postdoctoral fellowship there. He has also been a visiting researcher in Germany, Australia, and Ireland.
He was introduced to deliberative democracy, “through a kind of serendipity”, he says, when, “at school, a teacher—who has since become a friend—introduced me to the work of Jürgen Habermas, the most prominent figure in this field, and it felt like discovering a fresh spring of water.”
Ignacio then encountered the work of Carlos Nino and studied with Roberto Gargarella—both are Argentine scholars with global impact—which helped him, “connect abstract ideas about deliberative democracy with law and constitutionalism.” Since then, Ignacio has engaged with many prominent scholars in contemporary debates on judicial review, courts, rights, constitutional reform, citizens’ assemblies, legal theory, and constitutionalism more broadly.
Our central challenge is how to better and more legitimately protect both rights and democracy. This challenge is particularly relevant today, given the erosion of constitutional democracies in many countries.
Dr Ignacio Giuffré
For Ignacio, deliberative democracy offers a model of decision-making according to which public decisions should be made through inclusive dialogue among those affected.
“This model is important—I would even say revolutionary—because it promotes a culture of justification rather than one based on economic domination or political authoritarianism,” he explains. “It requires equal respect and consideration for the reasons offered by those affected. It is the most respectful way we have of making and legitimising decisions. And by considering multiple perspectives, we improve our chances of reaching decisions we can consider just.”
At the Faculty of Law, Ignacio teaches Public Law. Impressed with his students’ curiosity and engagement, he emphasises reciprocal learning—another core aspect of deliberative democracy—in the classroom.
I see dialogue as one of the best ways to learn. I encourage students to speak up, to think, to disagree, to criticise, and to engage in dialogue together whenever they wish.
Dr Ignacio Giuffré
"My aim is to create a space in which ideas can be tested through argumentative conversation, and where disagreement becomes an opportunity to think better rather than something to be avoided."
As a newcomer to the country, living in Aotearoa New Zealand has been academically meaningful for Ignacio.
Aotearoa has a distinctive constitutional model—“without a single, supreme, and entrenched constitution, and where courts cannot invalidate legislation”—which he finds “especially interesting in terms of legitimacy and compatibility with deliberative democracy.” Coming from Latin America and working on inclusive dialogue and comparative constitutionalism, he is also interested in constitutional debates concerning Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori.
Ignacio has also been influenced by New Zealand constitutional thinker Jeremy Waldron, one of the central critics of strong judicial review. As it turns out, Ignacio now lives in the same Wellington neighbourhood where Peter Hogg once lived; he notes that Hogg was an influential theorist of “constitutional dialogue”. He also acknowledges the influence of Joel Colón-Ríos, a former Professor of the Faculty, for his work on democracy and comparative public law and for serving on his PhD examination committee.
Outside the lecture theatre, Ignacio appreciates the warm welcome he has received from the Faculty. On the one hand, he highlights, “how welcome my new whānau has made me feel; my colleagues have been kind, supportive, and generous in helping me settle in.” On the other, he values the intellectually stimulating atmosphere—among colleagues such as Geoffrey Palmer, one of the key figures behind New Zealand’s Bill of Rights Act. He finds the law school building “stunning—stepping inside is like a journey back in time.” From its windows, he can look out onto the heart of New Zealand’s constitutional life—Parliament and the Beehive, as well as the High Court and the Supreme Court.
As for life in Wellington, he enjoys “the everyday use of te reo Māori, the kindness of people, the beauty of the landscape, as well as its film festivals and coffee culture.”