Trajectories of Constituent Power

Constituent power, the idea that people’s power crafts constitutional order, has become a key tenet of political theory and constitutional thought globally. How has its meaning changed across space and time? Scholars have extended the concept of constituent power, which originated in the French Revolution, to analyze earlier periods, authoritarian power, and transnational institutions.

The Trajectories of Constituent Power conference brings together international scholars of political, legal, and intellectual history to think through constituent power across time periods, regions, and interpretations. Over two days, participants will test the scope, range, and coherence of new developments in constituent power against its historical function. The aim is to historicize this influential idea and to assess its utility in contemporary political and constitutional debate globally.