The concept of state power is usually discussed in terms of potestas, the legal authority of governments to make binding decisions. This international workshop shifts the focus to potentia: the practical capacity of states to act, mobilize resources and exercise power in society. The event brings together leading scholars in public law, political theory and constitutional studies to explore how this often-overlooked concept can deepen our understanding of modern governance.
Against the backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, increased defence spending and expanding state capacities, participants will examine the relationship between legal authority and actual power. The programme features contributions on theories of the state, sovereignty, constitutional thought, public administration, democratic governance and the historical development of state power. By connecting constitutional analysis, democratic theory and administrative law, the workshop aims to shed new light on the challenges posed by increasingly powerful states in a rapidly changing world.
Organised by the University of Amsterdam in collaboration with several international research centres and universities, the workshop offers a multidisciplinary forum for discussing one of the most fundamental questions in public law: how legal authority and practical capacity interact in shaping political and constitutional order.