Populist Constitutionalism and the Concept of the Constitution

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Law, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

10.22034/law.2025.66635.3474

Abstract

Constitutionalism is one of the important concepts of legal science, especially in constitutional law. In this regard, this concept has been formed in many interpretations in legal thought. One of the types of this concept is populist constitutionalism, which has attracted the attention of legal researchers in the last decade. This article, using a descriptive-analytical method and relying on the most important sources regarding this concept and a Comparative study of the subject in different countries, seeks to answer the question of what populist constitutionalism is and what its characteristics are. The constitution has a different meaning for populists than its common meaning among jurists. Hence, some issues included in the constitutions, such as constitutional proceedings, elections, and an independent judiciary, are transformed in populist thought. Populist constitutionalism’s view of the constitution is instrumental. By relying on the concept of the people, they try to eliminate intermediary institutions such as representation and oppose ideas related to democracy. An attempt has also been made to determine the relationship of populist constitutionalism with close and bordering concepts such as political constitutionalism and popular constitutionalism.

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Main Subjects

References

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Jurisprudence and Islamic Law
Volume 16, Issue 39
September 2025
Pages 159-196

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