Emergency Powers

The problem of the state of emergency has become topical in the last two decades in connection with security, financial and health crises. These events pose a challenge to liberal democracy because they can bring political representatives to the brink of legality and, at least potentially, seem to legitimise procedures that would otherwise be questionable in a liberal democracy. Some authors have even expressed concerns that the exception has gradually become the new normality and that we live (almost without realising it) in a permanent exception. In response, experts have reflected on whether the state of emergency is a suitable means of resolving crises and whether there are other models that are more appropriate in terms of the interest in maintaining liberal democracy. The aim of the book is to provide a scientific reflection on the state of emergency and to discuss related concepts.