Public Law Studies Quarterly

The Formation of Modern Criminal Law in Light of the Constitution of the Public

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

Seyyed Saeid Mousavi asl 1
Zahra Sarempour 2

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Shiraz University

2 Ph.D. Student in criminal law and criminology, Department of criminal law and criminology,

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2026.409724.3915
Abstract
Although dealing with crime has long been relevant for the preservation of the moral and value-based boundaries of societies, it takes on a new form in the modern era in light of the reason of state. In the pre-modern conception, penal thought is oriented toward interpersonal moral concepts such as error, fault, desert, excuse, blame, responsibility, and punishment, and is ethical in nature. On the threshold of the birth of modern criminal law, however, the pre-modern moral, ethical, and religious perspective on social norms and private rights is marginalized. Through the constitution of the public and under modern governance, the reason of state redefines criminal law as public law. The state emerges as a reality “in itself” and “for itself,” independent of any external matter (including theological and moral concerns), and in a “self-governing” manner. Consequently, “criminal law knowledge” also acquires a secular identity, independent of any divine or religious epistemic framework. With the formation of nation-states and the separation of the public sphere from the private, public law emerges as a limiting factor on the boundless power of governance in domestic administration and politics. Thus, “criminal law as public law” takes shape based on the values of public institutions and under the aegis of the public.

Keywords

Criminal Law
Governance
The Public
Reason of state
Subjects

  1. English

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Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 February 2028

  • Receive Date 17 January 2026
  • Revise Date 23 February 2026
  • Accept Date 21 April 2026

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