Abstract
This contribution aims at discussing constitutional democracy in the age of populisms, by explaining how populist movements oppose liberal-democratic constitutionalism and by presenting the thesis of a so-called ‘populist constitutionalism’, as proposed by Mark Tushnet. In the first section, a general and analytic exploration of populist phenomena will be drawn, by focusing on the so-called thesis of a ‘populist’ constitutionalism. In the second part, Tushnet’s arguments for a populist constitutionalism will be presented, through the analysis of his two main contributions: Taking the Constitution Away from the Courts, in which Tushnet develops his critique of legal constitutionalism and judicial review as an undemocratic power by unelected justices, and Authoritarian Constitutionalism, a recent article in which Tushnet distinguishes between ‘authoritarian’ and ‘populist’ definitions of constitutionalism. In conclusion, such arguments will be discussed, by proposing a critical response to Tushnet’s position and presenting some risks of a majoritarian and populist constitutional democracy.
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Notes
On this line, see the various appeals for a nationalistic and ethnic defence of the ‘people’: ‘America first’ or ‘make America great again’ by President Trump and ‘Britain first’ by Farage’s UKIP and Brexit supporters; ‘prima gli italiani’ (Italians first) claimed by the Italian political leader Matteo Salvini; or the most recent Lepenist motto ‘Choisir la France’, which replaced the previous slogan ‘Remettre la France in ordre’.
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Acknowledgements
This paper has been originally presented at the Conference ‘Philosophy and Social Science’ held in Prague in May 16–20, 2018. I want to thank Alessandro Ferrara, Simone Chambers, David Rasmussen, Andrew Buchwalter, Daniel Gamper, Steve Winter, Cristina Lafont, Thomas Claviez, Axel Müller and Benjamin A. Schupmann for comments, questions, suggestions and remarks which helped me to improve this contribution. I am also indebted to the Italian Institute for Philosophical Studies in Naples (Istituto Italiano per gli Studi Filosofici), where I am currently a postdoctoral research fellow, for having supporting me in my research activity and for the opportunity to work in a dynamic and intellectually stimulating context.
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Fabbrizi, V. Constitutional Democracy in the Age of Populisms: A Commentary to Mark Tushnet’s Populist Constitutional Law. Res Publica 26, 433–449 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11158-019-09430-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11158-019-09430-7