Abstract
The paper introduces the work of Brazilian sociologist and constitutional theorist Marcelo Neves, presenting his contribution as a non-European, postcolonial approach to the process of constitutionalization. Firstly, it shows how Neves’ work relates to a long-standing tradition of Brazilian social thought, attempting to overcome its shortcomings. In so doing, Neves does not dismiss entirely however some of this tradition’s powerful insights. The paper then argues that Neves puts “social exclusion” at the center of efforts to grasp processes of constitutionalization in the peripheries of world society. For him, the world periphery would be characterized by precarious forms of citizenship that Neves refers to as forms of under-integration. Neves’ approach then proposes a sophisticated concept, that of “symbolic constitutionalization”, as a mechanism to institutionally stabilize forms of socialization that reproduce exclusion in the peripheries of world society.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
For a brief explanation of the idea of “methodological nationalism”: (Beck 2006).
- 2.
This word originated in ancient Greek διώτης (idhiótis), used to refer to a private citizen, someone who has withdrawn from public life.
- 3.
Similarities between Neves’ description of the “peripheric condition” and Partha Chattarjee’s description (Chatterjee 2004) of Indian political structures are surprising. For Chatterjee, modern politics as developed in European centers function primarily based on a fundamental distinction, that between State and Civil Society. In the post-colonial Indian context, however, he identifies the existence of a political compound according to which local colonial elites self-identify and describe themselves as civil society and appropriate the State, while the vast majority of the population becomes almost thoroughly excluded from the political system (State and civil society), assuming only the role of human bodies to-be-governed (Chatterjee 2004, pp. 27–52). In this sense, in spite of the significant differences between the regional contexts of Latin America and Asia, one could suggest that, indeed, there are structural similarities to be grasped.
References
Acemoglu D, Robinson J (2012) Why nations fail: the origins of power, prosperity, and poverty. Crown Publishers, New York
Alston LJ, Melo MA, Mueller B, Pereira C (2016) Brazil in transition: beliefs, leadership and institutional change. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Arantes PE (1997) Providências de um Crítico Literário na Periferia do Capitalismo. In: Arantes OBF, Arantes PE (eds) Sentido da Formação: Três estudos sobre a Antônio Candido, Gilda de Mello e Souza e Lúcio Costa. Paz e Terra, São Paulo, pp 11–66
Beck U (2006) Weltrisikogesellschaft, Auf der Suche nach der verlorenen Sicherheit. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt
Bora A (2002) “Wer gehört dazu?” Überlegungen zur Theorie der Inklusion. In: Hellmann K-U, Schmalz-Bruns R (eds) Theorie der Politik: Niklas Luhmanns politische Soziologie. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main, pp 60–84
Cardoso FH, Faletto E (1979) Dependency and development in Latin America. University of California Press, Berkeley
Chakrabarty D (2000) Provincializing Europe: post-colonial thought and historical difference. Oxford University Press, Princeton
Chatterjee P (2004) The politics of the governed: reflections on popular politics in most of the world. Columbia University Press, New York
DaMatta R (1997) Carnavais, Malandros e Heróis: Para uma sociologia do Dilema brasileiro. Rocco, Rio de Janeiro
Dantas MEB (2016) Constitucionalismo Periférico e teoria dos sistemas sociais: uma interpretação pós-colonial da tese da constitucionalização simbólica. Universidade de Brasília
de Holanda SB (1995) Raízes do Brasil. Companhia das Letras, São Paulo
Dutra R (2016) Diferenciação Funcional e a Sociologia da Modernidade Brasileira. Política Soc 15:77–109
Faoro R (1958) Os Donos do Poder - Formação do patronato político brasileiro. Globo, Porto Alegre
Gonçalves GL (2010) Rechtssoziologische Interpretationen des Rechtsdiskurs in Lateinamerika: eine postkoloniale Kritik. Juridikum Zeitschrift für Krit 21:311–320
Gonçalves GL (2013) Pós-Colonialismo e Teoria dos Sistemas: Notas para uma agenda de pesquisa sobre o direito. In: Bachur JP, Dutra R (eds) Dossiê Niklas Luhmann. Editora UFMG, Belo Horizonte, pp 249–278
Holmes P (2013) Verfassungsevolution in der Weltgesellschaft: Differenzierungsprobleme des Rechts und der Politik im Zeitalter der Global Governance. Nomos, Baden-Baden
Löwenstein K (1968) Verfassungslehre. Mohr & Siebeck, Tübingen
Luhmann N (1981) Politische Theorie im Wohlfahrtsstaat. Günter Olzog Verlag, München-Wien
Luhmann N (1987) Soziale Systeme: Grundriß einer allgemeinen Theorie. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt
Luhmann N (1989) Individuum, Individualität, Individualismus. In: Luhmann N (ed) Gesellschaftsstruktur und Semantik: Studien zur Wissenssoziologie der modernen Gesellschaft. Frankfurt, pp 149–258
Luhmann N (1990) Verfassung als evolutionäre Errungenschaft. Rechtshistorisches J 09:176–220
Luhmann N (1993) Das Recht der Gesellschaft. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt
Luhmann N (1995) Inklusion und Exklusion. In: Luhmann N (ed) Soziologische Aufklärung 6: Die Soziologie und der Mensch. Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen, pp 237–264
Luhmann N (1997a) Die Gesellschaft der Gesellschaft. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt
Luhmann N (1997b) Globalization or world society: how to conceive of modern society? Int Rev Sociol Rev Int Sociol 7:67–79
Luhmann N (2000) Die Politik der Gesellschaft. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt
Luhmann N (2004a) Einführung in die Systemtheorie. Carl Auer, Heidelberg
Luhmann N (2004b) Sinn, Selbstreferenz und soziokulturelle Evolution. In: Burkart R, Runkel G (eds) Luhmann und die Kulturtheorie. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt, pp 241–289
Luhmann N (2005a) Erleben und Handeln. In: Luhmann N (ed) Soziolosche Aufklärung 3: Soziales System, Gesellschaft, Organisation. VS Verlag, Wiesbaden, pp 77–92
Luhmann N (2005b) Was ist Kommunikation? In: Luhmann N (ed) Die Soziologie und der Mensch. VS Verlag, Wiesbaden, pp 113–124
Lynch CEC (2011) Saquaremas & Luzias: A sociologia do desgosto com o Brasil. Insight Inteligência Outubro-No:21–37
Mignolo W (2012) Local histories/global designs: coloniality, subaltern knowledges, and border thinking. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Neves M (1992) Verfassung und Positivität des Rechts in der peripheren Moderne: Eine theoretische Betrachtung und eine Interpretation des Falls Brasilien. Duncker & Humblot, Berlin
Neves M (1994a) A crise do Estado: da modernidade central à modernidade periférica. Rev Direito Adm 3:64–78
Neves M (1994b) Entre Subintegração e Sobreintegração: A Cidadania Inexistente. Dados - Rev Ciências Sociais 37:253–276
Neves M (2006) Entre Têmis e Leviatã: Uma relação difícil (O Estado Democrático de Direito a partir e além de Luhmann e Habermas)
Neves M (2007) A constitucionalização simbólica. Martins Fontes, São Paulo
Neves M (2013) Ideias em outro lugar? Constituição liberal e codificação do direito privado na virada do século XIX para o século XX no Brasil. Rev Bras Ciências Sociais 3010:4–27
Neves M (2017) From the autopoiesis to the allopoiesis of law. J Law Soc 28:242–264
Neves M (2018) Constituição e direito na Modernidade Periférica: Uma abordagem teórica e uma interpretação do caso brasileiro. WMF Martins Fontes, São Paulo
Nobre M (2012a) Da “formação” às “redes”: Filosofia e cultura depois da modernização. Cad Filos Alemã 19:13–36
Nobre M (2012b) Depois da “formação”: Cultura e política da nova modernização. Piauí 74
Quijano A (2005) Colonialidade do poder, eurocentrismo e América Latina. In: Lander E (ed) A colonialidade do saber: eurocentrismo e ciências sociais. Perspectivas latino-americanas. CLACSO, Buenos Aires, pp 227–278
Ricupero B (2008) Da formação à forma. Ainda “as ideias fora do lugar”. Lua Nov 73:59–69
Souza J (2013) Niklas Luhmann, Marcelo Neves e o ‘culturalismo cibernético’ da moderna teoria dos sistemas. In: Bachur JP, Dutra R (eds) Dossiê Niklas Luhmann. Editora UFMG, Belo Horizonte, pp 149–182
Spivak GC (1988) Can the subaltern speak? In: Nelson C, Grossberg L (eds) Marxism and the interpretation of culture. Macmillan, Londres, pp 271–313
Stäheli U (2003) The outside of the global. New Centen Rev 3:1–22
Stichweh R (2000) Systems theory as an alternative to action theory? The rise of communication as a theoretical option. Acta Sociol 43:5–13
Stichweh R (2005) Inklusion und Exklusion, Studien zur Gesellschaftstheorie. Transcript Verlag, Bielefeld
Tavolaro SBF (2005) Existe uma modernidade brasileira? Reflexões em torno de um dilema sociológico brasileiro. Rev Bras Ciências Sociais 20:5–22
Tavolaro SBF (2014) A Tese da Singularidade Brasileira Revisitada: Desafios Teóricos Contemporâneos. DADOS - Rev Ciências Sociais 57:633–673
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Holmes, P., Dantas, M.E. (2021). A (More) Cosmopolitan Sociology of Constitutions: Marcelo Neves’ Theory of Symbolic Constitutionalization. In: Nogueira de Brito, M., Calabria, C., Portela L. Almeida, F. (eds) Law as Passion. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63501-5_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63501-5_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-63500-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-63501-5
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)