Filippo Del Lucchese, Constituent Power in Early Modern Political Philosophy: From La Boétie to Hobbes – Edinburgh University Press, November 2025

Explores the intricate theme of constituent power, a pivotal yet often elusive concept in political philosophy

• Provides detailed examinations of La Boétie, Bodin, Lipsius, Campanella, Suárez, and Hobbes, offering nuanced insights into their unique contributions to the theory of constituent power
• Places each philosopher’s ideas within the broader socio-political and intellectual contexts of the 16th and 17th centuries, enhancing understanding of how their thoughts on constituent power responded to and shaped their environments
• Lays a comprehensive historical and philosophical groundwork that equips readers to bridge early modern theories of constituent power with contemporary political and constitutional debates
• Revisits the works of well-studied philosophers to offer new perspectives and critical insights that challenge established interpretations and highlight underexplored aspects of their political thought

This book offers an in-depth examination of constituent power through the writings of six major philosophers from the 16th and 17th centuries, highlighting how their ideas have shaped the foundation and transformation of political philosophy.

Filippo Del Lucchese delves into how La Boétie, Bodin, Lipsius, Campanella, Suárez and Hobbes conceptualized and influenced the evolution of this fundamental political idea. By examining their writings, he illuminates the diverse interpretations and the profound impact these thinkers had on the formation of political authority and constitutional frameworks. He also bridges this historical analysis with contemporary debates on democracy, sovereignty and the enduring tension between political foundation and institutional stability in modern legal and political theory.