Martin Loughlin is a distinguished Professor of Public Law whose work delves deeply into the political and legal dimensions of the modern state. His analyses are characterized by a profound insight into the relationship between power, law, and legitimacy. Loughlin investigates how state power has evolved over time and how these shifts are embedded within legal and political structures. His writing is crucial for understanding the contemporary challenges facing democratic societies.
The concepts and values that underpin traditional constitutionalism are increasingly being challenged by political and economic realities that place substantial power beyond the state. This book gathers leading constitutional theorists to discuss the impact of the growth of transnational governance on the foundational values of constitutionalism.
In this new edition of the Very Short Introduction, Loughlin includes a disucssion of the impact of developments over the decade since its first publication, examining Brexit, the Scottish independence referendum of 2014, and the settlement in Northern Ireland.
In modern political communities ultimate authority is often thought to reside with 'the people'. This book examines how constitutions act as a delegation of power from 'the people' to representative and expert institutions, and looks at the attendant problems of maintaining the legitimacy of these constitutional arrangements.