Associate Professor Ron Levy

Associate Professor
BSc (McGill); JD (Toronto); LLM (Columbia); PhD (Osgoode); admitted to Bar of Ontario
+61 2 6125 0814
Room 7.3.5

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Biography

Associate Professor Dr Ron Levy is an interdisciplinary researcher writing on public law and political theory - especially deliberative democratic theory. His recent projects explore referendums in deeply divided societies, Indigenous constitutional reform, environmental constitutionalism and the deliberative dimensions of rights practice. Levy's books include Deliberative Peace Referendums (Oxford University Press, 2021, with Ian O'Flynn and Hoi Kong); The Cambridge Handbook of Deliberative Constitutionalism (Cambridge University Press, 2018, with Hoi Kong, Graeme Orr and Jeff King eds); and The Law of Deliberative Democracy (Routledge, 2016, with Graeme Orr). He has published numerous works on law and political theory, in several countries, including in Public Law, McGill Law Journal, UBC Law Review, UNSW Law Journal, Melbourne University Law Review, Griffith Law Review, Public Law Review, Election Law Journal, Australian Journal of Political Science, Journal of Deliberative Democracy and The Oxford Handbook of Deliberative Democracy.

Levy is the winner of several research awards including grants from the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Australian Research Council. He was a chief investigator on two ARC Discovery Projects: 'The Law of Deliberative Democracy: Theory and Reform' (DP130100706, 2013-2015) bridging research on election law with deliberative democratic theory; and 'Confronting the Devolution Paradox' (DP140102682, 2014-2016) on federalism and political culture.

Levy convenes the International Advisory Panel on Referendums, a global network of scholars providing advice to governments and non-governmental organisations on referendum design and innovation. He also co-convenes the ICON•S Australia/New Zealand Constitutional Theory Group. And he is the Director of the ANU Law School's LLB and JD Programs.

Levy has been a Fellow or Visitor at Cambridge, Yale, UC Berkeley, Stanford, McGill, Hebrew University, Sydney, King's College London and Oxford. He previously worked in the Ministry of the Attorney-General of Ontario, Constitutional Law Branch.

Current teaching: Commonwealth Constitutional Law, Australian Public Law, Contemporary Issues in Constitutional Law, Comparative Constitutional Law

Significant research publications

Books & Edited Collections

Articles and Chapters

Reports

Recent news

08
Aug
2022
s
Guhong Zhou has landed a coveted graduate role at a top-tier Sydney law firm, capping off a memorable academic experience enriched by prizes, mentorship and an unshakeable focus.
30
Jul
2021
Daniel Schmoll, 2021 ANU University Medallist
ANU 2021 University Medallist Daniel Schmoll looks back on how those long hours of readings and practice exams were all worth it.
04
Feb
2021
Australia Day protests at Parliament House
ANU public law scholars have supported a submission to the Federal Government urging the enshrinement of an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution.
11
Jun
2020
Liam Boyle
An essay titled ‘The Significant Role of the Australia Acts in Australian Public Law’ written by Liam Boyle, a senior lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor in Canberra, has won the prestigious 2020 Zines Prize for Excellence in Legal Research.

In the Media

10
Jun
2023
Ron Levy interviewed by The Australian
30
Mar
2023
Ron Levy quoted in 10 News

Past events

02
May
2023
Environmental Constitutionalism: A masterclass with ANU's Associate Professor Ron Levy
6.00PM to 7.00PM Webinar
  • Associate Professor Ron Levy

Passionate about environmental law and policy? Interested in exploring emerging global phenomena in environmental constitutionalism? Join Associate Professor Ron Levy for this must-attend online masterclass that will expand your knowledge on this subject.

01
Apr
2022
ICON•S AUS/NZ Constitutional Theory Group Annual Conference
10.00AM to 5.30PM Conference

The first Plenary Conference of the Constitutional Theory Group of the I·CON-S Aus/NZ branch.

30
Jun
2021
ANU Law and Philosophy Forum: Deliberative Peace Referendums
4.30PM to 5.30PM Webinar

Join Dr Levy and Dr O’Flynn in this ANU Law and Philosophy Forum event as they discuss the theoretical foundations and normative value of deliberative peace referendums, in a range of conflict situations.

26
Sep
2017
Udit Bhatia
3.00PM to 4.00PM Seminar
  • Udit Bhatia, University of Oxford

Why should we prefer democracy to an epistocracy of competent persons? In his response to this question, David Estlund appeals to the ‘demographic objection’.

Research biography

Associate Professor Dr Ron Levy is an interdisciplinary researcher writing on public law and political theory - especially deliberative democratic theory. His recent projects explore referendums in deeply divided societies, Indigenous constitutional reform, environmental constitutionalism and the deliberative dimensions of rights practice. Levy's books include Deliberative Peace Referendums (Oxford University Press, 2021, with Ian O'Flynn and Hoi Kong); The Cambridge Handbook of Deliberative Constitutionalism (Cambridge University Press, 2018, with Hoi Kong, Graeme Orr and Jeff King eds); and The Law of Deliberative Democracy (Routledge, 2016, with Graeme Orr). He has published numerous works on law and political theory, in several countries, including in Public Law, McGill Law Journal, UBC Law Review, UNSW Law Journal, Melbourne University Law Review, Griffith Law Review, Public Law Review, Election Law Journal, Australian Journal of Political Science, Journal of Deliberative Democracy and The Oxford Handbook of Deliberative Democracy.

Levy is the winner of several research awards including grants from the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Australian Research Council. He was a chief investigator on two ARC Discovery Projects: 'The Law of Deliberative Democracy: Theory and Reform' (DP130100706, 2013-2015) bridging research on election law with deliberative democratic theory; and 'Confronting the Devolution Paradox' (DP140102682, 2014-2016) on federalism and political culture.

Levy convenes the International Advisory Panel on Referendums, a global network of scholars providing advice to governments and non-governmental organisations on referendum design and innovation. He also co-convenes the ICON•S Australia/New Zealand Constitutional Theory Group.

Levy has been a Fellow or Visitor at Cambridge, Yale, UC Berkeley, Stanford, McGill, Hebrew University, Sydney, King's College London and Oxford. He previously worked in the Ministry of the Attorney-General of Ontario, Constitutional Law Branch.

Research projects & collaborations

  • Deliberative constitutionalism

  • The law of deliberative democracy

  • Constitutional referendums

  • Referendums in divided societies

  • Rights and deliberation

Grants

  • ARC Discovery Project, 2013-2015: ‘The Law of Deliberative Democracy: Theory and Reform’ (with Graeme Orr) bridging research on law and deliberation

  • ARC Discovery Project, 2014-2016: Confronting the Devolution Paradox’ (with AJ Brown, Robyn Hollander, Paul Kildea, Rodney Smith) on federalism and political culture

  • COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action – Deliberative Constitution Making (led by Prof Min Rauchamps, Louvain, with 43 member states) – Non-European (Observer) member

Books & edited collections

Refereed journal articles

Book chapters

Commissioned reports

Case notes & book reviews

Other

PhD supervision

I am willing to supervise in the areas:

  • Laws of politics and democracy
  • Constitutional law, theory, history and reform
  • Deliberative democracy
  • Referendums
  • Rights

SJD supervision

I am willing to supervise in the relevant areas.

MPhil supervision

I am willing to supervise in the relevant areas.

LLM Masters thesis supervision

I am willing to supervise in the relevant areas.

Honours thesis supervision

I am willing to supervise in the relevant areas.

Previous courses

Year Course code Course name
2021 LAWS6105
Class #2707
Australian Public Law
2021 LAWS1205
Class #2211
Australian Public Law
2021 LAWS4213
Class #1608
Contemporary Issues in Constitutional Laws
2021 LAWS8016
Class #3551
Comparative Constitutional Law

Past courses

  • Commonwealth Constitutional Law
  • Contemporary Issues in Constitutional Law (advanced elective)
  • Australian Public Law
  • Lawyers, Justice and Ethics
  • Torts
  • Comparative Constitutional Law

How my works connects with public policy

Associate Prefessor Levy convenes the International Advisory Panel on Referendums, a global network of scholars providing advice to governments and non-governmental organisations on referendum design and innovation.

He also co-convenes the ICON•S Australia/New Zealand Constitutional Theory Group. And he is the Director of the ANU Law School's LLB and JD Programs.

Levy also co-directs the Project on Deliberative Governance and Law (DGAL), within the Centre for International and Public Law. Based at the Australian National University and the University of British Columbia, DGAL is an international network of scholars. The project advances research on institutional innovation based on cutting-edge studies of law, governance and deliberative democracy, and provides a platform for innovative ideas to influence domestic and international approaches to governance.

 

Updated:  10 August 2015/Responsible Officer:  College General Manager, ANU College of Law/Page Contact:  Law Marketing Team