Annual PHD Conference: Law, state and democracy: the foundations of freedom in 21st century Europe

Veranstalter:	Hans-Böckler-Foundation, Ruhr University Bochum
Ort:	Bochum, Jahrhunderthaus
vom:	14.04.2026
bis:	16.04.2026

"The liberal, secularised state thrives on conditions that it itself cannot guarantee." This famous dictum by constitutional lawyer Ernst Wolfgang Böckenförde serves as the starting point for the 2026 edition of the scientific conference of the doctoral candidates of the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung. Its purpose is to re-examine fundamental questions of legal philosophy and legal doctrine in national and European contexts.

But what are the pre-legal prerequisites of national and European law? What are the historical sources of law, statehood and freedom? And how are legal relations developing in 21st century Europe? How strong is the danger that EU-Europe might evolve into a shapeless confederation of states without a unifying political identity? These and other questions are to be discussed and illustrated using contentious sociopolitical topics: examples might include the EU migration regime or the European supply chain law, where differing views exist among the member states, the European Commission and the European Parliament. 

Deadline for registration: January 31, 2026

Call for Papers - English (pdf)

Call for Papers - German (pdf)

Contact:

Simone Beer
veranstaltungen(at)boeckler.de