Luigi Ferrajoli


Luigi Ferrajoli is an Italian jurist and disciple of Norberto Bobbio. Born in Florence, he is one of the leading theorists of garantism, a theory he initially developed within the field of criminal law but that he regards as a general paradigm applicable to the protection of all fundamental rights. Ferrajoli defines himself as a critical legal positivist, and is also considered a philosopher.

Selected works

Many of Ferrajoli's works have been translated into Spanish by former Supreme Court of Spain justice Perfecto Andrés Ibáñez. His main works include:
  • 1995: Law and Reason: Theory of Penal Garantism. Madrid: Editorial Trotta.
  • 1999: Rights and Guarantees: The Law of the Weakest. Madrid: Editorial Trotta.
  • 2004: Epistemology and Garantism. Mexico City: UNAM.
  • 2006: Penal Garantism. Mexico City: UNAM.
  • 2007: Principia Iuris: Theory of Law and Democracy. Vol. 1: Theory of Law. Rome–Bari: Editori Laterza.
  • 2007: Principia Iuris: Theory of Law and Democracy. Vol. 2: Theory of Democracy. Rome–Bari: Editori Laterza.
  • 2007: Principia Iuris: Theory of Law and Democracy. Vol. 3: The Syntax of Law. Rome–Bari: Editori Laterza.
  • 2008: The Theory of Law in the System of Legal Knowledge. In: Ferrajoli, L.; Atienza, M.; Moreso, J. The Theory of Law in the Constitutional Paradigm. Madrid: Fundación Coloquio Jurídico Europeo.
  • 2008: Democracy and Garantism. Madrid: Editorial Trotta.
  • 2012: Twelve Questions around Principia iuris. Eunomía. Journal on the Culture of Legality. No. 1, September 2011–February 2012.
  • 2017: Constitutionalism Beyond the State. Spanish edition: Constitucionalismo más allá del Estado.
  • 2019: Manifesto for Equality. Madrid: Editorial Trotta.
  • 2022: For an Earth Constitution: Humanity at the Crossroads. Madrid: Editorial Trotta.