[Colloque] Beyond the State: New Perspectives on the Conceptual Relationships between Constitution and Society
- SFPJ
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Conference
Beyond the State: New Perspectives on the Conceptual Relationships between Constitution and Society
Organised by Manon Altwegg-Boussac (Paris-Est Creteil University/IUF) & Sabina Tortorella (MSCA/University of Namur)
29-30 January 2026
Institut de droit comparé - Amphithéâtre - 1st oor
28 rue Saint Guillaume, 75007 Paris
Constitutionalism, understood as a means of establishing a political sphere autonomous from society, is seen as having constructed the opposition between the state and society. At the same time, the concept of constitutionalism is increasingly being used to describe other forms of social power and normativity – such as the economy, finance, digital technologies, media, and environment – even though the concrete and theoretical implications of these shifts have not always been fully clarified. More recent trends have emerged within the framework of socio-constitutionalism or societal constitutionalism to challenge the reduction of constitutional issues to state-individual relations, acknowledging the complexity of power. Despite their heterogeneity in assumptions, as well as in their descriptive, normative, and theoretical dimensions, these approaches have contributed to renewing the inquiry into the relationship between constitution and society.
The purpose of the conference is to assess the current boundaries of constitutionalism and to explore theoretical proposals seeking to overcome them. These approaches raise several fundamental questions: What role should be granted to social actors and sectors within constitutionalism? How can their normative autonomy be acknowledged while also regulating their private power and expansionist tendencies? To what extent do these transformations challenge traditional forms of politics? At what cost might the relationship between constitution and society be reconsidered today?
The event is open to the public and free of charge. It will take place both in person and online. To attend remotely, please contact the organisers. Full program on the webpage (here) or in the file below.
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