Contemporary Challenges in Constitutional Theory: International, European and Domestic Perspectives

Keynote

University of Liverpool, 19 – 20 June 2017

Drawing on a successful series of workshops on the theme of legal and constitutional theory held in the academic year 2015-16, the School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool, will host a two-day conference on ‘Contemporary Challenges in Constitutional Theory: International, European and Domestic Perspectives’ on the 19th and 20th June 2017.

The conference has two main aims. First, it aims to facilitate critical reflection on the value of, and challenges posed by, the use of constitutional theory in legal scholarship, considering specifically how the impact of various challenges may differ depending on the perspective taken (be that international, transnational, domestic or comparative). Second, the conference is envisaged as the first step towards the establishment of an inter-institutional, interdisciplinary network of postgraduate and early career researchers working in constitutional theory.

With this in mind, the first day will offer postgraduate students and early career researchers working in the area of constitutional law the opportunity to present and receive feedback on theoretical aspects of their work from an assembled expert panel, chaired by Professor Neil Walker, Regius Professor of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations, University of Edinburgh. Day 2 will follow a traditional conference format. We are delighted to announce that Professor Walker will deliver the conference keynote address. Other confirmed participants include:

  • Dr Mike Gordon (University of Liverpool)
  • Dr Marco Goldoni (University of Glasgow)
  • Dr Christopher McCorkindale (University of Strathclyde)
  • Dr Aoife O’Donoghue (Durham University)
  • Dr Bogusia Puchalska (University of Central Lancashire)
  • Dr Christine Schwobel-Patel (University of Liverpool)

Interested postgraduate, or early career researchers (within 3 years of PhD submission) should send an abstract of a proposed paper relating to any aspect of constitutional theory broadly defined (up to 500 words), along with a short biography to both Ben Murphy (b.l.murphy@liverpool.ac.uk ) and Andrew Woodhouse (hsawoodh@liverpool.ac.uk). The deadline for submissions is 30th April 2017. Successful applicants will be informed by 3rd May 2017.