Next system scholars and practitioners are slated for numerous panel presentations at the forthcoming meetings of Law and Society Association (LSA) in Denver, Colorado and of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE) in Limerick, Ireland. If you are attending these meetings or are in the area and would like to connect with us, please let us know.
At Law & Society, a series of next system-related panels will provide enlightening and provocative discussions on constitutional innovation and community empowerment. By examining popular law and prefigurative legality, these discussions will offer insights into the evolving landscape of constitutional design and its implications for addressing contemporary crises.
Dr. Manski's presentation, "An Essential Ingredient in Constitution Making and for Democratization," describes how the practice of revolutionary constitutionalism is an essential ingredient for democratization. His study includes every top-50 GDP country that undertook a formal constitutionalization process at the end of the 20th century, and combines attention to structural conditions, political processes, and movement strategies.
In, “A Constitution Without a State: Using Political Anthropology to Understand the Rojava Social Contract,” UMass Amherst PhD Student and next system researcher Eleanor Finley, will draw upon frameworks in political anthropology to offer a unique perspective on the Rojava Social Contract as an instance of popular constitutionalism and constitutional revolution. By situating this document within a discursive framework, Eleanor showcases how this popular constitution embodies ongoing negotiations and contestations over revolutionary praxis and democracy.
Doctoral student Dhruv Deepak will present on digital constitutionalism, an approach which challenges conventional notions of governance in the digital age. He will explore how technology reshapes social relations and governance structures, necessitating adaptations while upholding core constitutional values. By analyzing emergent popular digital constitution-making initiatives globally, this discussion will urge a broader conceptualization beyond state-centricity and individualist interpretations of common rights.
Deepak, Finley, and Manski will join with Dr. Catherine Frost of McMaster University, Dr. Daniel Lee of Move to Amend, Dr. Anthony Pahnke of San Francisco State University, Dr. Carys Hughes of University of East London on two panels titled, "Constitutional Revolution, Revolutionary Constitutionalism, and the Agonies of Democracy," and, "Popular Constitutionalism Beyond the Nation State."
At the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics meeting in Limerick, anticipation surrounds discussions on community wealth building (CWB) strategies as well as a community wealth reception headlined by a major Irish political figure (to be announced). Scholar-practitioners are poised to explore the multifaceted dimensions and potential futures of CWB initiatives. From local pilot projects to regional transitions, panelists will examine the scaling-out of CWB strategies and their implications for economic empowerment and democratization. Anticipated papers will delve into the roles of national governments, universities, and labor unions in advancing CWB policies and fostering community resilience. By envisioning the potential synergy between CWB campaigns and decarbonization efforts, participants aim to chart a course towards inclusive, sustainable, and community-driven economic development.
As we look forward to these discussions pushing the boundaries of constitutional innovation and community empowerment, we welcome the next system scholarly community to engage. If you’re interested in contacting us about these conferences, please email us at nss@gmu.edu.
April 04, 2024