Challenging the conventional wisdom that constitutional courts are the best device that democratic systems have for the protection of individual rights, Wojciech Sadurski examines the most recent wave of activist constitutional courts: those that have emerged after the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. In contrast to most other analysts and scholars he does not take for granted that they are a "force for the good", but rather subjects them to critical scrutiny.

I.- The Model of Constitutional Review in Central and Eastern Europe: An Overview.- Constitutional Courts in Search of Legitimacy.- The Model of Judicial Review and its Implications.- Constitutional Courts and Legislation.- II.- Judicial Review and Protection of Constitutional Rights.- Personal, Civil and Political Rights and Liberties.- Socio-Economic Rights.- Equality and Minority Rights.- "Decommunisation", "Lustration", and Constitutional Continuity.- Restrictions of Rights.