The Constitutional Road to Dictatorship: States of Exception and Authoritarianism in Europe, 1900-39

Introduction

STEXEU investigates the impact of states of exception on democracy in early-twentieth century Europe. In the interwar years, and sometimes before, democratic rule came under strain across the continent.

Historical Context

In explaining the rise of dictatorship, historians have generally pointed to forces that challenged the rule of law from without, such as fascism and communism. However, when faced with extraordinary challenges to state authority, the fin-de-siècle liberal legal order contemplated the suspension of constitutional norms through states of exception and emergency powers.

Government Dependence

During and after the First World War, governments became increasingly dependent on these legal instruments in a context of political instability. Their repeated use resulted in hybrid forms combining democratic and authoritarian features and sometimes (though not necessarily) paved the way to open dictatorship.

Project Focus

STEXEU examines how the use of states of exception transformed the mentalities, practices, and interactions of state and non-state actors in charge of maintaining law and order. The project assesses eight national case studies:

1. Spain
2. Portugal
3. Italy
4. Germany
5. Czechoslovakia
6. France
7. Britain
8. Greece

These countries followed different trajectories in 1900-39, with some remaining democratic and others not.

Methodology

Though it draws some cues from legal studies, STEXEU is above all a history project. It aims to revolutionize the voluminous juridical literature on states of exception by grounding this phenomenon in historical reality through a systematic analysis of primary sources.

Significance

STEXEU promises to shed new light on the history of democracy and dictatorship, exploring the disregarded constitutional origins of authoritarianism that emerged from the bosom of the liberal regimes themselves.

Broader Relevance

The relevance of this study transcends historiographical environments, enriching fields such as legal studies and political science, and connecting with contemporary anxieties such as the rise of illiberal democracies.