François Saint-Bonnet

François Saint-Bonnet is a Professor of Legal History at the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas, affiliated with the Michel Villey Institute for Legal Culture and Philosophy of Law. He teaches History of Institutions, Historical Introduction to Law, and Law of Fundamental Freedoms. His research explores the historical dimensions of public freedoms, constitutional law, and political/legal doctrines, with a focus on emergency powers, terrorism, and modernity’s legal challenges.

• Key themes: State of Exception, Constitutional Evolution, Fundamental Rights, Digital Jurisprudence

His publications span critical analyses of emergency legislation (e.g., The State of Exception, PUF, 2001), historical interpretations of terrorism (e.g., Tested by Terrorism. The Powers of the State, Gallimard, 2017), and co-edited works like Citizenship as belonging to the political body (2021). He served as Head of the DU Foundations of Public Law at Panthéon-Assas and is Scientific Director of the Library of the History of Law and Roman Law collection (since 2009). Contact: inst.mvilley@u-paris2.fr.