5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

The sociology of constitutions has expanded the concept of constitution beyond its classical juridical and political meaning and disconnected it from statehood. It has decoupled constitutions from institutional politics and looks for new modes of political action and subjects beyond their typically modern conceptualisation in popular sovereignty, nationhood and nation state to address global issues of environmental justice and challenges related to the societal and climate changes of the Anthropocene. The concept of constituent power in global society needs to be addressed beyond its common political and juridical conceptualisations and theoretical frameworks. The stream will focus on the climate crisis and constitutionalism, development of global legal and political networks, interaction between human and non-human agencies, the constitutionalism system and environment, democratic reforms and public mobilisation at subnational, national and supranational levels, cosmopolitan constitutionalism and ethics, human and non-human rights, law and development, environmental rights and transnational justice.

(Session organized by RCSL Working Group Sociology of Constitutions)