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  1. Home
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  3. A Sociology of Constitutions
  • Cited by 117
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
September 2011
Print publication year:
2011
Online ISBN:
9780511895067
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511895067
Subjects:
Constitutional and Administrative Law, Socio-Legal Studies, Law, Political Sociology, Sociology
Series:
Cambridge Studies in Law and Society
Information

Book description

Using a methodology that both analyzes particular constitutional texts and theories and reconstructs their historical evolution, Chris Thornhill examines the social role and legitimating status of constitutions from the first quasi-constitutional documents of medieval Europe, through the classical period of revolutionary constitutionalism, to recent processes of constitutional transition. A Sociology of Constitutions explores the reasons why modern societies require constitutions and constitutional norms and presents a distinctive socio-normative analysis of the constitutional preconditions of political legitimacy.

Reviews

'This book discusses in a highly original and sophisticated manner aspects of the makings and workings of constitutions, whose significance (both intellectual and practical) has not been previously recognized. It will establish itself as the cornerstone of a new line of scholarship, complementary to more conventional historical and juridical approaches to constitutional analysis.'

Gianfranco Poggi - University of Trento

'This is an important book for those who seek to understand the sociological processes involved in the development of states and their constitutions. It has the great merit of offering considerable detail in support of its thesis and thus ample ammunition to challenge the many alternative theories of the development of the modern state.'

Richard Nobles Source: The Modern Law Review

‘Thornhill's book is exceptionally well documented and researched as regards historical facts, legal developments, and the genealogy of major concepts of modern European constitutionalism and state politics … [An] extremely important socio-legal endeavour … sociologists of law and constitutionalism now have powerful methodological tools, a sociological conceptual framework, and invaluable sources of the new constitutional imagination.'

Jiří Přibáň Source: Journal of Law and Society

'Thornhill’s work can only be considered truly impressive. It is very rare that one comes across a book which opens up an entirely new field while challenging essentially all existing approaches in such a convincing, elegant and scrupulous manner. Most proponents of alternative positions are likely to find the foundations of their own work seriously challenged, just as the book is likely to dominate the field for many years to come. This makes [it] an absolute must for any serious scholar interested in constitutional sociology and theory. Thornhill has cast a gauntlet which deserves to be picked up.'

Poul F. Kjaer Source: European Journal of Social Theory

'This is an outstanding book that suggests a completely new approach in constitutional theory and research … [T]he book introduces a new era of progressive research on constitutional evolution and the sociological history of constitutional law. [It] is a paradigm case for further studies.'

Hauke Brunkhorst Source: Public Law

'Chris Thornhill's A Sociology of Constitutions … provides an uncompromisingly detailed and telling analysis of the structural and conjunctural forces that have shaped constitutional developments in a mainly European context since the Middle Ages. For anyone seriously interested in constitutional history, this book provides an excellent and erudite analysis.'

Grahame Thompson Source: Economy and Society

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