Grundgesetzliches: Verfassungsorte
The series "Grundgesetzliches" looks at the historical roots of our constitution on this evening. Former judge at the European Court of Human Rights Angelika Nußberger and American legal scholar Russell A. Miller, co-author of the illustrated book "Verfassungsorte," discuss with Alexander Thiele events, places, and buildings that shaped the development of German democracy and represent milestones in constitutional history. From the imperial election and the Everlasting Reichstag to the constitutional drafts of the 19th century, the Weimar Constitution, the adoption of the Basic Law 75 years ago, and the incorporation of the German constitution into European institutions. A homage to democracy, illustrated by the impressive photographs from the book showing dozens of historical places across Germany where constitutions were drafted, fought for, interpreted, lost, and applied. History reminds us that we must be determined if we want to enjoy the benefits of constitutionalism: democracy, separation of powers, and the rule of law. Perhaps there is no more important lesson for today. The book project "Verfassungsorte" was generously supported and funded by the Foundation for Places of German Democracy History.
Angelika Nußberger is a professor of international law, public law, and comparative law at the University of Cologne, director of the Academy for European Human Rights Protection, and vice-president of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. From January 2011 to December 2019, she was a judge at the European Court of Human Rights and from February 2017 its vice-president. Additionally, she is a member of the advisory board of the Foreign Office, the Venice Commission, and the Institut de droit international.
Russell Miller is the J.B. Stombock Professor of Law at W&L University (Virginia). He is a respected teacher and scholar in the fields of public law and comparative law with extensive research work on German law and German legal culture. He led the Max Planck Law Network (2020–2022). He has been awarded prizes and scholarships from Fulbright, the DAAD, the Robert Bosch Foundation, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He is a co-founder and co-editor of the German Law Journal. Miller studied at Washington State University, Duke University, and the University of Frankfurt. He has worked as a research associate at a U.S. federal court and at the Federal Constitutional Court.
Alexander Thiele is a professor of state theory and public law, particularly constitutional and European law, at the BSP Business and Law School – University of Management and Law. His current research focuses on democracy and state theory, where he explores the fundamental functional prerequisites of democratic orders through an interdisciplinary approach. With us, together with his team from the BSP Business and Law School, as part of the series "Grundgesetzliches."
Photo: Old Town Hall of Regensburg, venue of the Everlasting Reichstag from 1663 to 1806, (c) Klaus Bärwinkel, Wikimedia Commons
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
