Constitutions of Europe: Different Models and What They Teach Us

This paper is based on a presentation on Constitutionalism & National Identity that was delivered at a Symposium on 7-8 Dec. 2022. It describes in detail three models of constitutions that may be found across Europe. Those models are the Charter (or National Covenant), the League (or Confederation), and the Administrative Unitary State. The paper also puts forward a fourth model (or quasi-model) - the Anti-Constitution, designed to prevent the recurrence of a
specific political catastrophe. The paper explains the implications of the Anti-Constitution model for Germany, France and Italy - the three largest member states of the European Union. The paper concludes by explaining lessons for European conservatives from the differing constitutional models.