The Birth and Transformation of Public Law: Historical and Modern Approaches

This study examines the historical roots of public law, its development, and the main challenges it faces today. Starting from Roman law, the public-private law distinction of Ulpianus, feudal and canonical regulations in the Middle Ages, modern theories of sovereignty, the separation of powers and popular sovereignty principles of the Enlightenment are discussed, and the understanding of public law that has survived to the present day is discussed. It is revealed that public law encompasses areas such as constitutional law, administrative law, and criminal law; and that it has evolved over time to limit state power and secure individual rights. It evaluates how public law should adapt to new norms and institutions in the face of democratic regressions in the 20th and 21st centuries, digital surveillance, climate crisis and cross-border problems such as migration.