This collection of papers explores the concept of constitutional identity in theory and with specific reference to Central and Eastern Europe at a time when many countries across but also beyond the region seem to appeal to an identarian rhetoric in order to justify their illiberal political attitudes. Drawing on law, political science, philosophy or sociology, the contributions address salient questions of constitutional and political theory like the understanding of (constitutional) identity in a post-Westphalian legal order, the extent and the stakes of judicial dialogue between national and supranational (European) judges and the so-called abusive legal transplants. As such, the book also touches upon more general topics such as the rule of law, populism, globalization, legal consciousness and legal culture.

Alexandra Mercescu teaches comparative public law at the West University of Timisoara. She is also an affiliated researcher at the Centre for Legal Education and Social Theory (Wroclaw University). Her PhD, obtained from Sorbonne University, was published as Pour une comparaison des droits indisciplinée with the Swiss publisher Helbing Lichtenhahn.

Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 7
List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................... 9
Part I Central and Eastern Europe Reexamined: The `CEE Forum¿
Alexandra Mercescu
Introduction: From Country to Country, From Time to Time,
Questions and Answers of Self and Other .......................................................... 13
Balázs Fekete
The (First) Ten Years of the CEE-Forum: Timeline, Data and
Assessment .............................................................................................................. 25
Part II Constitutional Identities: Theoretical Frameworks
Ji¿í P¿ibá¿ interviewed by Karel Hvíž¿ala
In Quest of Democratic Values and Identities in Central European
Constitutionalism: on the Post-1989 Histories and Politics in the Czech
Republic ................................................................................................................... 37
Zoltán Szente
The Constitutional Identity Conundrum ............................................................ 59
Martin Belov
Constitutional Identity ¿ Westphalian Reflection of the Constitutional
Heritage of the Nation State or Post-Westphalian Alternative to
Sovereignty in the Context of Supranational Constitutionalism? ................... 73
Sorina Doroga
Understanding Constitutional Identity Through the Language of Courts ......... 91
Mario Krešic
Legal Consciousness and the (De)constitutionalization
of the Legal Order .................................................................................................. 117Part III Constitutional Identities: Regional Self-Questionings
Flaminia Stârc-Meclejan
Environmental Legal Consciousness in Romania:
Beyond Röia Montan¿ .......................................................................................... 137
Przemys¿aw Tacik
Polish Constitutional Identity under the Illiberal Turn .................................... 157
Miros¿aw Michä Sadowski
Central Europe in the Search of (Lost) Identity. The Illiberal Swerve ............. 173
Stefan Andonovi¿ and Uroš Bajovi¿
The Role of Independent Control Bodies in Shaping Constitutional
Identity ..................................................................................................................... 195
Lucian Bojin and Alexandra Mercescu
Protests in Romania: Civil Society, Populism and
Civic Constitutionalism ......................................................................................... 209
List of Figures .......................................................................................................... 225
Notes on Contributors ........................................................................................... 227
Index of Names ....................................................................................................... 233
Index of Notions ..................................................................................................... 237