The theory that Hans Kelsen expounded in his main works is a general theory of positive law. Positive law is for Kelsen always the law of a definite community. To attain a scientific exposition of those particular orders constituting the corresponding legal communities is the design of the general theory of law. This theory, resulting from a comparative analysis of the different positive legal orders, gives the fundamental concepts by which the positive law of a legal community can be described. The topic of a general theory of law is the legal norms, their elements, their interrelation, the legal order as a whole, its structure, the relationship between different legal orders, and, finally, the unity of the law in the plurality of positive legal orders. Does the Kelsenian model still apply to 21st century democracies?

Our 2020 Annual Conference was scheduled to be held at the University of Wrocław in Poland on July 9-11, 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICON·S Executive Committee has decided to postpone our 2020 Conference to 2021. Our next Annual Conference will take place from July 8-10, 2021, in Wrocław, Poland.
Procedural details regarding the organization of the 2021 Conference will follow in the months ahead.
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