Patriotism Rooted in Constitutional Identity: A Legal Theory of Democratic State Resilience

Paweł Maciąg

doi:10.56583/fs.2995

Published : 2025-12-21

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2025)

Patriotism Rooted in Constitutional Identity: A Legal Theory of Democratic State Resilience

dr Paweł Maciąg

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2852-6512

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56583/fs.2995

Abstract

This article examines the theoretical and legal concept of patriotism as a core element of the resilience of a modern democratic state. Drawing on the Polish republican tradition, it demonstrates that constitutionalism in Central Europe emerged earlier than commonly assumed and was grounded in a civic understanding of power. This heritage informs the contemporary debate on the rule of law, democratic legitimacy, and collective identity. The analysis proposes the concept of “constitutional patriotism rooted in identity.” This form of patriotism harmonizes the historical experience of a nation with the moral norms and obligations articulated in instruments such as the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It fosters institutional trust, civic responsibility, and the moral resilience of democratic systems. The article argues that this conceptualization of patriotism aligns fully with the norms of contemporary public international law and can serve as a stabilizing factor, strengthening the rule of law and the resilience of constitutional democracies.

Keywords:

constitutional patriotism, state resilience, Polish republican tradition, international law, civic education, democratic legitimacy, identity and law, 1974 UNESCO Recommendation, rule of law

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Maciąg, P. (2025). Patriotism Rooted in Constitutional Identity: A Legal Theory of Democratic State Resilience. Facta Simonidis, 18(2), 309–323. https://doi.org/10.56583/fs.2995

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