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Populism and constitutionalism

Author

Listed:
  • Gutmann, Jerg
  • Metelska-Szaniawska, Katarzyna

Abstract

Populism is frequently described as a threat to constitutionalism, although some researchers emphasize that populists, too, draft, enforce, and derive legitimacy from constitutions. This chapter explains the theoretical foundations of these concerns and provides an overview of empirical evidence regarding the relationship between populism and constitutionalism.

Suggested Citation

  • Gutmann, Jerg & Metelska-Szaniawska, Katarzyna, 2026. "Populism and constitutionalism," ILE Working Paper Series 92, University of Hamburg, Institute of Law and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ilewps:92
    Note: Contribution prepared for the "Handbook on Economic Populism: A Political Economy Perspective".
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/340821/1/ile-wp-2026-92.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gilat Levy & Ronny Razin & Alwyn Young, 2022. "Misspecified Politics and the Recurrence of Populism," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(3), pages 928-962, March.
    2. Razin, Ronny & Levy, Gilat & Young, Alwyn, 2022. "Misspecified politics and the recurrence of populism," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112544, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Jerg Gutmann & Roee Sarel & Stefan Voigt, 2025. "Measuring constitutional loyalty," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 205(1), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Caramani, Daniele, 2017. "Will vs. Reason: The Populist and Technocratic Forms of Political Representation and Their Critique to Party Government," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 111(1), pages 54-67, February.
    5. Callais, Justin T. & Mkrtchian, Gor, 2024. "Court-packing and judicial manipulation," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    6. Dornbusch, Rudiger & Edwards, Sebastian, 1990. "Macroeconomic populism," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 247-277, April.
    7. Jerg Gutmann & Stefan Voigt, 2023. "Militant constitutionalism: a promising concept to make constitutional backsliding less likely?," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 195(3), pages 377-404, June.
    8. Koch, Cédric M., 2021. "Varieties of populism and the challenges to Global Constitutionalism: Dangers promises and implications," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 10(3), pages 400-438.
    9. Manuel Funke & Moritz Schularick & Christoph Trebesch, 2023. "Populist Leaders and the Economy," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(12), pages 3249-3288, December.
    10. Dornbusch, Rudiger & Edwards, Sebastián, 1990. "La macroeconomía del populismo en la América Latina," El Trimestre Económico, Fondo de Cultura Económica, vol. 57(225), pages 121-162, enero-mar.
    11. Jerg Gutmann & Martin Rode, 2025. "Bend It like Bolsonaro: Global Evidence on the Effect of Populism on Constitutional Compliance," CESifo Working Paper Series 12191, CESifo.
    12. Jerg Gutmann & Katarzyna Metelska-Szaniawska & Stefan Voigt, 2024. "The comparative constitutional compliance database," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 95-115, January.
    13. Zachary Elkins, 2021. "Term-limit evasions and the non-compliance cycle," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 32(3), pages 326-345, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • K11 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Property Law
    • K38 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Human Rights Law; Gender Law; Animal Rights Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies

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