Andrew Arato

Andrew Arato is a Professor at The New School for Social Research in New York, USA. He is a prominent scholar specializing in constitutional theory and democratic politics, with particular expertise in post-sovereign constitutionalism and constituent power.

Research Interests

Professor Arato's research focuses on constitutional theory, with special attention to democratic transitions and constitution-making processes. His work examines how societies can establish legitimate constitutional orders through inclusive processes that go beyond traditional sovereign models.

His scholarship particularly emphasizes:

• Post-sovereign constitutional design and theory
• Constituent power and authority in democratic transitions
• Round table negotiations in constitutional processes
• Multi-track constitutionalism and informal constitutional change
• Comparative analysis of constitutional transitions, particularly in South Africa
• Constitutional rigidity and legitimate forms of informal change

Scholarly Contributions

Professor Arato's work demonstrates a consistent focus on how constitutional orders can be established through inclusive negotiation processes rather than sovereign imposition. His research shows particular interest in the role of civil society and negotiated transitions in constitutional design, with significant comparative work on the South African constitutional process.

His scholarship bridges theoretical political philosophy with practical constitutional design, offering frameworks for understanding how societies can overcome deep political divisions through constitutional negotiation. The evolution from his 2008 lectures on foundational constitutional theory to his 2012 work on multi-track constitutionalism reveals a trajectory toward increasingly nuanced analyses of constitutional flexibility and informal change mechanisms.