The Open Lecture “Liberal and Libertarian Constitutionalism(s), Migration, and Xenophobia” will take place on April 23, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., in Room S.0.11, as part of the activities promoted by CEAD Francisco Suárez.
The event will feature the participation of Didier Gazagnadou, Emeritus Professor at the University of Paris VIII, and Gabriele De Angelis, Vice-Director of the European Studies program at the University of Coimbra—two renowned experts who will enrich the debate with theoretical and empirical perspectives on highly topical issues.
Although the resurgence of xenophobia in response to migratory flows is often associated with the assumptions of liberal constitutionalism—namely, the policy of open borders—this workshop proposes to locate the origins of this phenomenon in libertarian principles. Indeed, while both approaches advocate the primacy of individual freedoms and freedom of movement, they differ substantially in their doctrinal characterization. In this context, the presentations will prioritize a comparative analysis between liberal and libertarian constitutionalism, combining theoretical elaboration with empirical-practical evidence, with a particular focus on the context of the European Union.
