The Political as an Analytical Category in the Critical Study of Case Law Theoretical Model and Case Study

The aim of the present paper is to operationalise the concept of the political in order to make it available as an analytical category for the critical study of judicial decisions (case law). The concept of the political is understood here, following, in particular, Chantal Mouffe’s agonistic theory, whereby it is a dimension of a social antagonism. Such an antagonism can be played out not only in the process of legislation (creation of abstract and general legal norms), but also in the process of adjudication (the so-called ‘application of law’, which, however, always has a creative element to it). As an analytical category, the political can be operationalised in order to subject judicial decisions to a critique which goes beyond the question of the ‘correct’ interpretation and ‘application’ of law in a given case, but puts in the spotlight real social, political and economic conflicts that are at stake. The analytical framework is exemplified by judicial decisions of the European Court of Justice.