Transforming Constitutionalism from a More-than-Human Perspective

Abstract: In this talk, Professor Jennifer Nedelsky explores the possibilities of reimagining constitutionalism beyond the confines of the state to encompass the more-than-human world. Arguing that such a shift is vital for addressing the planetary crisis of climate change, she proposes a transformative approach to constitutional thinking—one that seeks to constitute just and sustainable relations among all members of the earth community, human and more-than-human alike. By detaching constitutionalism from its traditional association with state institutions, Nedelsky invites us to rethink the foundations of law, care, and political belonging in an era of ecological urgency.

Jennifer Nedelsky is a distinguished legal and political theorist, renowned for her interdisciplinary work that bridges feminist theory, legal theory, and political philosophy. Nedelsky’s scholarship is characterized by a relational approach to law and autonomy. Her seminal work, Law’s Relations: A Relational Theory of Self, Autonomy, and Law (2011), received the C.B. Macpherson Prize from the Canadian Political Science Association. In 2023, she co-authored Part-Time for All: A Care Manifesto with Tom Malleson. The book advocates for a societal shift where all capable adults engage in both paid part-time work and unpaid caregiving. She is also developing the concept of “more-than-human constitutionalism,” advocating for legal frameworks that recognize the rights and dignity of the natural world, emphasizing that the earth and its creatures are not merely resources but entities deserving care and respect.