Journal Global Constitutionalism published with Cambridge University Press
Global Constitutionalism (GlobCon) offers an interdisciplinary space for addressing the foundations, limitations and contestations of the principles and norms of political order and their dynamics over time on a global scale. The journal publishes cutting-edge peer-reviewed work which refers to and advances global constitutionalism as an interdisciplinary field. Submisisons are invited from a broad range of disciplines including International Law, Political Science, International Relations, Comparative Constitutional Law, Comparative Politics, Political Theory and Philosophy.
Editors: Jeffrey Dunoff Temple University, USA , Jonathan Havercroft University of Southampton, UK , Mattias Kumm WZB Berlin and New York University and Antje Wiener University of Hamburg, Germany and University of Cambridge, UK
Please find further information about the journal on the Cambridge Core Website (Link to Journal Home).
In the first issue of each volume, the editors critically engage with progress made and challenges which lie ahead for further advancement of the field. These annual editorials are published on a free-to-read basis (Link to annual editorials).
Symposium: All Emperors? On the Constituent Power of Unbound Constitutionalism published in the International Journal of Constitutional Law (I•CON)
This Introduction to the Symposium on Constituent Power reflects on the changes subsequent to the transfer of fundamental constitutional norms from domestic to global contexts. This transfer raises the issue of legitimate global order. Is it possible to address this issue of legitimacy of global governance by shifting the conceptual focus from debates about global constitutionalization towards the involved multiple actorship as a potential constituent power? Is asking a question about the pouvoir constituant helpful in analyzing global constitutionalism as a remedy for the shortcomings of global governance? All contributions to this symposium elaborate on the insight that the concept of constituent power offers a crucial conceptual tool for mapping “unbound” constitutional quality. The developing process of global constitutionalization appears to go hand in hand with a contestation of the very norms promoted by global constitutionalism. This observation raises some general issues about the ultimate effectiveness of global constitutionalization which this symposium attempts to cope with.
Editors: Stefan Oeter and Antje Wiener (both University of Hamburg)
Please find further information about the symposium on the website of the journal (Link to Symposium).
Handbook on Global Constitutionalism
This Handbook introduces scholars and students to the history, philosophy, and evidence of global constitutionalism. Contributors provide their insights from law, politics, international relations, philosophy, and history, drawing on diverse frameworks and empirical data sets. Across them all, however, is a recognition that the international order cannot be understood without an understanding of constitutional theory. The Handbook will define this field of inquiry for the next generation by bringing together some of the leading contemporary scholars.
Editors: Anthony F. Lang, Jr. (University of St Andrews) and Antje Wiener (University of Hamburg)
Please find further information about the edited volume on the website of Edward Elgar Publishing (Link to Volume)
Research Projects
Based on the ConUnbound project, two further follow up projects have been funded by the DFG:
- Eine Wiederaneignung verfassunggebener Gewalt? Neu entstehende Gegen-Narrative im EU-Konstitutionalismus, PI: Peter Niesen (Link to Project)
- Competing Narratives of Global (De-)Constitutionalization in International Investment Law, PI: Karsten Nowrot
Public Lectures und Workshops
In the context of the project a number of public events and workshops have been organised (selection):
- Scholars Workshop "Challenges to Global Constitutionalism" in Berlin organized by the Global Constitutionalism Journal and the WZB Center for Global Constitutionalism, July 5-6 2018. The goals of the Workshop are to advance global constitutionalism as an interdisciplinary field and to promote the creation of networks of scholars working in similar fields. For further information please see this link.
- GlobCon Agora on "The Internationalists. How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World", July 5 2018 (for other 'Agoras' see this link). Authors of the book Oona Hathaway (Yale Law School) and Scott Shapiro (Yale Law School) discuss their claim that the prohibition of the use of force brought about a radical change in the nature of international law in this event organized by the Global Constitutionalism Journal. For further information please see this link.
- Public lecture by Professor Ezzedine Choukri Fishere (American University Cairo) on “The Arab Spring – Egypt’s New Majority" June 19, 2013.
- Roundtable with Rainer Forst under the titel "Towards a Critical Theory of Transnational Justice" was organised at the Universtity of Hamburg. With Mattias Kumm, Anthony F. Lang Jr. James Tully and Antje Wiener, moderated by Maximilian Steinbeis. June 10, 2013
- Workshop with Friedrich Kratochwil on book manuscript "The Status of Law in Global Society", December 7, 2012. Book published as "The Status of Law in World Society: Meditations on the Role and Rule of Law" in 2014 by Cambridge University Press.
- Public lecture by Professor Hauke Brunkhorst (Universität Flensburg) on "The European Crisis - Paradoxes of Constitutionalizing Democratic Capitalism“ November 21, 2012.
- Public lecture by Professor Anthony F. Lang, Jr. (University of St. Andrews) on "The Arab Spring: From Revolutions to Constitution" January 9, 2012.
