Perilous Futures: On Carl Schmitt's Late Writings

The writings of Carl Schmitt, who supported National Socialism before and during World War II, have been debated and adopted by political and legal thinkers on both the left and right. Peter Uwe Hohendahl calls for critical scrutiny of Schmitt's later writings, which offer solutions to globalization, asymmetrical warfare, and the shifting international order. He charts the shift in Schmitt's perspective from a German nationalist focus to a European and then international agenda, addressing the tension between the specific circumstances in which Schmitt was writing and the later international appropriation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 246 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Since his passing, the writings of Carl Schmitt (1888-1985) have garnered increasing attention from political and legal thinkers on both the left and right, albeit with some controversy due to his unwavering support for National Socialism before and during World War II. In his book "Perilous Futures," Peter Uwe Hohendahl calls for a critical examination of Schmitt's later works, particularly those that address contemporary concerns such as globalization, asymmetrical warfare, and the evolving international order. Hohendahl argues that while Schmitt's later writings may appear to offer solutions to these pressing issues, the ambiguity of his beliefs makes them a problematic guide.

To explore this, Hohendahl focuses on Schmitt's postwar publications, including "The Nomos of the Earth," "Theory of the Partisan," and "Political Theology II," as well as his posthumously published diaries. By contextualizing these works within their biographical and historical contexts, Hohendahl charts the shift in Schmitt's perspective from a German nationalist focus to a European and then international agenda. He also examines the conceptual and theoretical continuities with his prewar work while addressing the tension between the specific circumstances in which Schmitt was writing and the later international appropriation.

By crossing disciplines such as history, political theory, international relations, German studies, and political philosophy, Hohendahl brings Schmitt's later writings into contemporary discourse and challenges us to reevaluate our understanding of him. His book offers valuable insights into the complexities of Schmitt's thought and its relevance to contemporary debates about politics, power, and the nature of the international system.

Weight: 378g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501764585