Constituent radiography: A description of the political, institutional, and social arenas of constituent processes

Abstract

This research comparatively analyzes Latin American constitution-making processes developed between 1990 and 2022 through a methodological proposal called “constitutional radiography.” The study argues that constitution-making processes cannot be understood solely through constitutional texts, but also through the political, institutional, and social dynamics shaping constituent power. The analysis is organized around three interrelated arenas: the political arena, linked to power relations and crisis contexts; the institutional arena, focused on drafting bodies and deliberative rules; and the social arena, centered on citizen participation and democratic legitimacy. Methodologically, the study adopts a comparative approach applied to the cases of Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile. The findings show that Latin America became one of the main laboratories of contemporary constitutional experimentation, although with heterogeneous configurations ranging from pluralist and negotiated models to polarized and hegemonic forms of constituent power organization.