A Constitution as a nation’s autobiography: what is put In and what is left out? The case of Sweden
Location:
Neil MacCormick Room,
Old College
Date/time
Mon 16 February 2026
14:00 - 15:30
This event is part of the Edinburgh Centre for Constitutional Law seminar series
About this event
Writers often claim that a constitution does primarily three things: it sets out the organization of the state, sets out the boundaries on the exercise of state power (in particular rights for individuals) and constitutes (according to others, legitimates) the polity. In this lecture, I examine to what extent one can say that the Swedish constitution (the Instrument of Government, IG) gives an accurate picture of these three functions and what matters are left out. I describe and explain the transition IG is undergoing from a system of “political constitutionalism” to a more mixed political/legal European constitution. I also say something about the changing role the IG plays in Swedish public law and the legal system as a whole, and speculate about the criteria for a “successful” constitution.
About the speaker
Iain Cameron, Professor in Public International Law at the University of Uppsala
Image credit: Freepik