Constitutional Discourse is an initiative of European academics and professionals brought to life by the tense atmosphere of the European and Western constitutional dimension. European Integration has always been a playing field of political conflict, where the necessary consensus moved the integration process forward from time to time (e.g. the Luxembourg Compromise itself). European public discourse is a special place where dissenting parties and the positions they form have clashed in the past and still clash to this day, albeit these parties are not enemies merely opponents, having everyone leave negotiations with a little more than they came with.

In recent years, we have seen a worrying trend of increasingly polarized positions, not just in the EU but around the globe. Increasingly, those who take a stand are losing the ability to accept that the standpoints of those who voice opposing views are valid and represent values similar to theirs and that we could only build a stable, united Europe if we do not engage in “mutually assured destruction”. When Constitutional Discourse was launched, our fundamental idea was that we should continue to consider the nation and national sovereignty as the cornerstone of the European integration process. These are essential attributes on which a united Europe can and must be built, because Europe must exist on a solid foundation, like a house built on rock(s).

Along with all of this, we wanted to create a platform for constructive debate, of European and Western constitutional discourse, while accepting the verity of the fact that there are no mutually exclusive truths. In recent years, we have witnessed a tumultuous period marked by economic, natural, and social crises. These challenges have been compounded by a growing sense of social isolation, which may be a sign of an even deeper crisis of values. These values—Western, Eastern, liberal, illiberal, conservative, and more—are increasingly at odds, with each side becoming more entrenched in their positions. This lack of common ground is particularly concerning as we face issues such as global migration and climate change that require diverse perspectives to find solutions. This blog, Constitutional Discourse, aims to facilitate constructive dialogue and consider a variety of viewpoints as we grapple with these global challenges and the future of the Western World, especially Europe.

We focus on issues that can be addressed through law, particularly constitutional law, and discourse, and pay particular attention to the European integration process and the future of Europe as a whole. While the conflict of values within the European Union is well documented, we believe that the root of this conflict lies in a lack of shared historical experiences rather than a lack of confidence in a common future. By fostering open and respectful dialogue, we hope to build a better future for all, in other words: uniting diversity and an ever closer union for a better tomorrow.

We want to believe that our initiative could bring together the constitutional thoughts of all European and Western academics and beyond, in a fruitful dialogue and mutual understanding. Living in our times is marked by the fact that humanity had to pay a great tribute in the battlefields and the cities in World War II, as well as by the rise and fall of the Bolshevik concept of state, so that human dignity and democracy can be guaranteed to everyone. The nations have expressed the determination to live harmoniously together, and some of them decided to create the European Union for a common future of European peoples.

It is exactly what we need to do today more than ever before, all over Europe, to work fervently with the aim to really get to know each other—through educating, debating, and continuously learning from each other—to truly become a family in equality, mutual respect, will of understanding, and converge, but not to downgrade our standards for the sake of unanimity.

It is needless to say that Constitutional Discourse, conceived as a scientific platform for dialogue, shall be open to everyone beyond political, geographical, religious, philosophical, or any other beliefs and orientations, while it is not meant to be a battlefield for activism of any kind.

The Constitutional Discourse blog has been created and is edited by the Editorial Board in the above spirit. It is a free platform through which academics and researchers can express their professional views on European and Western constitutional issues in accordance with the editorial principles set out in our Submission Guidelines and Code of Ethics. The main sections of Constitutional Discourse are European Values, Future of Europe, Tech & AI, and Privacy & Data Protection, however, we also welcome manuscripts on any topical constitutional issue from across legal systems and cultures to enrich professional debate in light of our motto: “Discourse? Of Course!”

The Editorial Board

Constitutional Discourse Blog