Democratic self-defence by constitutional integration
Abstract
Abstract Constitutional democracies face significant threats. Such threats are countered by various theories of militant democracy and non-militant democratic self-defence, using a wide range of repressive, educational and social policy tools. The article introduces an alternative perspective on democratic self-defence policies, emphasising integration as a key component in maintaining the resilience of the constitutional community and draws on Rudolf Smend’s integration theory. It explores how constitutional design through its structures, powers, procedures, rituals and symbols shapes community cohesion and strengthens the constitutional order by deliberately using emotions.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Comparative constitutional jurisprudence studies
Political Theory and Democracy
German legal
social
and political studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- International Journal of Law in Context
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 216–234
- Publication date
- 6 February 2026
- Language
- EN