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Reassessing Social Movements’ Position and Normative Force in Constitutional Settings

  • André Nunes Chaib

    Assistant Professor

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Abstract

The present article examines the new position of social movements in constitutional settings. It argues that social movements – both structured and unstructured – have rearranged themselves both normatively and spatially to create new means to influence law and politics. The article sketches out new forms in which social movements have understood their ways of organizing and the possibilities for advancing legal and political change in constitutional settings. Using Judith Butler’s theory of assemblage and Bruno Latour’s concept of terrestriality, the article examines how social movements read constitutional settings, such as domestic constitutional apparatuses and international institutions, to advance their political and legal agendas. The article does not limit itself to a pure public law perspective but also incorporates insights from public international law.

Zusammenfassung

Der vorliegende Artikel untersucht die neue Bedeutung sozialer Bewegungen in verfassungsrechtlichen Kontexten. Es wird argumentiert, dass strukturierte wie auch unstrukturierte soziale Bewegungen sich sowohl normativ als auch räumlich neu aufgestellt haben, um auf Recht und Politik Einfluss zu nehmen. Der Artikel skizziert die neuen Formen, in denen sich soziale Bewegungen organisiert haben, um rechtliche und politische Veränderungen in einem verfassungsmäßigen Rahmen voranzutreiben. Mithilfe von Judith Butlers Theorie der Assemblage und Bruno Latours Konzept der Terrestrialität untersucht der Artikel, auf welche Art und Weise soziale Bewegungen verfassungsrechtliche Kontexte, Instrumente und Institutionen auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene für ihre politischen und rechtlichen Ziele nutzen. Der Artikel beschränkt sich nicht auf eine rein öffentlich-rechtliche Perspektive, sondern bezieht auch Erkenntnisse aus dem Völkerrecht mit ein.

About the author

Dr André Nunes Chaib

Assistant Professor

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Published Online: 2022-10-22
Published in Print: 2022-11-30

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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