Kollektive Selbstinszenierung

This paper analyzes the constitutional interpretation of freedom of assembly, emphasizing the discrepancies between traditional legal definitions and social-scientific perspectives on collective action. Social-scientific research reveals that collective action in public is not only instrumental but deeply expressive, involving identity affirmation, emotional engagement, and performative rituals. These elements significantly influence both individual participants and societal dynamics, extending the value of assemblies beyond mere political advocacy. Both the narrow and the broad constitutional definitions of assembly fail to capture the complexity of the social practice they try to describe. Instead, a balanced, intermediate definition of assemblies is proposed, involving criteria such as ritualistic interactions, collective identity expression, and symbolic performances. Such an approach acknowledges the intricate interplay between the political, social, emotional, and symbolic aspects of collective action in public.