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Constitutional Reasoning in the Nordic Supreme Courts: An Empirical and Comparative Legal Perspective

By Katalin Kelemen
New Arrival Hart Publishing May 2026

Specifications

ISBN-13
9781509991549
Publisher
Hart Publishing
Publication
May 2026
Format
Hardback
Jurisdiction
U.K. ? Countri(es) for reference only

Details

This book explores the argumentative style of the supreme courts in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden).

Its findings are based on empirical research involving 280 leading constitutional cases which demonstrate that the impact of a constitutional ruling often extends far beyond the cases actually adjudicated by the courts and that it is crucial to understand how judges justify their decisions in constitutional cases.

In the cases researched, the authors identify and explain the common features of the Nordic constitutional reasoning, situating the Nordic experience within a broader comparative framework. The book compares these practices with those of non-Nordic jurisdictions, analysing whether and how the approaches of Nordic supreme courts align with each other and with global trends. This is made possible through the use of a well-established conceptual and methodological framework, adapted to the Nordic context. Key aspects of judicial reasoning are examined, including the emphasis placed on specific constitutional concepts, the use of non-legal arguments, the reliance on precedents, and the types of sources typically referenced – such as preparatory works, foreign legal materials, and academic writings. The book is aimed at anyone interested in the constitutional culture of the Nordic countries and informs normative debates on constitutional law, both in scientific and political discourse. It contributes to the global academic discourse on constitutional reasoning with a unique perspective from the Nordic countries, which have often been overlooked in comparative research.

Table of Contents

1. Exploring Constitutional Reasoning in the Nordic Supreme Courts Empirically: An Introduction
Katalin Kelemen (Örebro University, Sweden), Maija Dahlberg (University of Eastern Finland), Åsa Elmerot (Uppsala University, Sweden), Mikael Kenno Fogde (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), Haukur Logi Karlsson (Bifröst University, Iceland), Helle Krunke (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), Morten Nadim (University of Oslo, Norway) Nicklas Pettersson (Örebro University, Sweden)
2. About the Methodology: A Quantitative Approach to Comparing Constitutional Reasoning in the Nordic Supreme Courts
Nicklas Pettersson and Katalin Kelemen (Örebro University, Sweden)
3. Constitutional Reasoning at the Supreme Court of Denmark – In Front of and Behind the Scenes
Helle Krunke and Mikael Kenno Fogde (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
4. The Culture of Constitutional Reasoning in Iceland
Haukur Logi Karlsson (Bifröst University, Iceland)
5. A Constitutional Culture in Transition? An Empirical Study on Finnish Supreme Courts' Constitutional Reasoning
Maija Dahlberg (University of Eastern Finland)
6. International Constitutionalism: The Impact of International Law on Constitutional Reasoning in the Norwegian Supreme Court
Morten Nadim (University of Oslo, Norway)
7. Constitutional Reasoning in the Swedish Supreme Courts
Åsa Elmerot (Uppsala University, Sweden)
8. Conclusions: Is There a Nordic Constitutional Culture?
Katalin Kelemen (Örebro University, Sweden)

Appendix: Nordic CONREASON Project Codebook
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