This book presents a selection from papers, including some speeches and book chapters, published by Ernst Hirsch Ballin in English since 1991. His work, both in academic life and in several public offices, expresses an awareness of the impact of a lack of public trust and trustworthiness concerning respect for human rights and the rule of law, and the effects that this often has in cross-border relations.

The papers, starting with a programmatic speech on ‘investing in confidence’ at a symposium on police and judicial cooperation in the EU, were written against the backdrop of Hirsch Ballin’s quest for institutions and practices that respect and promote human rights within and beyond national constitutional arrangements, and that seek to reduce the risks of exclusions and injustices both for vulnerable individuals and groups, as well as for future generations.
The collection focuses on constitutional and administrative law and, more specifically, on the relationship between these legal domains and the constitutional principles of the rule of law, democracy and human rights.

Alongside this selection of work celebrating Hirsch Ballin’s work and retirement, Boom juridisch has also published a collection of papers in Dutch entitled Recht doorgronden. Keuze uit wetenschappelijk werk over publiekrecht, rechtsstaat en beleid 1993-2021.