SOCIO-LEGAL STUDIES ASSOCIATION (SLSA) ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026

30 Mar 2026– 01 Apr 2026

University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RH, UK

STREAM: CONSTITUTIONALISM IN DEVELOPING DEMOCRACIES

CALL FOR PAPERS

Stable constitutionalism is generally regarded as one of the characteristics associated with advanced democracies. However, emerging research in comparative law and courts suggests that a significant degree of constitutionalism can exist without having an established democracy. Admittedly, many developing democracies have unstable constitutional histories, and the governments in these states are in a better position to control or manipulate constitutional courts that have no power of the purse or firearm. In recent decades, however, some real-world cases in developing democracies show that constitutional courts are increasingly successful in enforcing constitutions and making rulings against the interests of other governmental branches. How can we account for the presence of reasonably stable constitutionalism and independent courts in developing democracies? Which factors (or actors) promote or undermine the development of constitutionalism and judicial independence in developing democracies? This section seeks to address the above questions and questions related thereto.

We call for papers that make new theoretical, empirical, and methodological contributions to various aspect of constitutionalism in developing democracies. Specifically, we are interested in soliciting papers with the subjects including, but not limited to, judicialization of politics, politicisation of the judiciary, judicial independence, the rule of law, constitutional politics, comparative judicial politics, politics of human rights, the enforcement of socio-economic rights, and/or judicial decision-making. We also welcome papers on in-depth case studies for a single country or with a regional focus (such as Asia, Latin America, Africa, etc.).  Additionally, we encourage papers on legal theories developed in the context of developing democracies, comparative analysis of constitutionalism in established and developing democracies, and/or new empirical datasets on courts in developing democracies.

Please see details about bursaries at https://www.sussex.ac.uk/collaborate/events/slsa/conference-bursaries

Please see the above call for papers/posters and details about registration deadlines, and submit your paper abstract (up to 250 words) via Oxford Abstracts at the link provided: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/collaborate/events/slsa/papers-posters

The deadline for submissions is 18 December 2025.

For informal queries please contact convenor: Dr Nauman Reayat, Leicester Law School, University of Leicester at nauman.reayat@leicester.ac.uk; nauman381a@gmail.com or Rashidah Abdul Hamid, Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge at ra357@cam.ac.uk