Pluralism in contemporary legal thinking within the context of the European legal tradition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35774/app2026.02.018Keywords:
understanding of law, pluralism, European legal tradition, rule of law, constitutionalism, legal culture, human rightsAbstract
This article examines the characteristics of contemporary pluralism in legal thought within the context of the European legal tradition and the transformation of legal scholarship. The relevance of the topic stems from the crisis of classical legal positivism, the intensification of globalization and European integration processes, the development of international and supranational law, as well as the need to rethink law as a multidimensional sociocultural phenomenon. Contemporary law is increasingly moving beyond a purely normative approach and is viewed through axiological, anthropological, communicative, and cultural dimensions. Of particular significance is the European legal tradition, which has shaped a unique understanding of law based on the rule of law, human rights, democracy, freedom, justice, and human dignity.
The aim of this article is to explore the essence of contemporary legal pluralism and to define the role of the European legal tradition in shaping a multidimensional understanding of law. The methodological basis of the study consists of philosophical-legal, axiological, systemic and historical-legal methods, which allowed for a comprehensive analysis of the development of contemporary legal thought and the characteristics of the European legal space.
The study found that pluralism in the understanding of law is a natural consequence of the development of post-classical legal science and integration processes in Europe. It has been demonstrated that European legal culture forms a distinct legal space in which national, international, and supranational legal systems interact. It has been determined that law, in the modern European understanding, is perceived not only as a system of norms but also as a system of values aimed at ensuring freedom, justice, and the protection of human rights. It has been substantiated that legal pluralism contributes to the development of democratic constitutionalism, the formation of a human-centered legal culture, and Ukraine’s integration into the European legal space.
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