Urban Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Challenges

Abstract The 21st century may safely be called the ‘urban era’. year 2007 marked moment when for first time in modern history, over 50% of world’s population lived urban areas. By 2050 almost 70% humanity is projected to urban, i.e., a human settlement with usually high density and an infrastructure built environment. While role large cities, metropolitan areas regions has been increasing, political domain states, which these cities or constitutionally form part, seems continuously shrinking. And although rise unlikely lead disappearance sovereign-state model, idea states as having final authority seriously challenged. This caused by at least two simultaneously occurring trends: transfer tasks responsibilities upwards, international supranational level, through processes globalization development downwards, local regional level (or even neighborhood district), decentralization regionalization. These combined trends have glocalization, process exemplary complexity society, shifts from hierarchy networks, autonomy unity central sovereign state are under pressure. special issue fruit workshop organized Tilburg Law School on 25 November 2022, dedicated exploration several constitutional rule law challenges posed what we dubbed constitutionalism.