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Project: Carl Schmitt

Tell Me Who Your Enemy Is

SODOM & GOMORRAH: Carl Schmitt once said, "Tell me who your enemy is and I'll tell you who you are."  Westerners haven't and won't listen to Schmitt's wisdom when looking at the revolutions in the Middle East because the truth is uncomfortable.

International Liberalism is Always Coercive

SODOM & GOMORRAH: The United States Congress has just frozen $700 million in aid to Pakistan, in the name of stopping terrorism, promoting world peace, and saving ponies. While perhaps justified, the incident serves as a reminder for us that international liberalism neither stops terrorism, promotes world peace, nor saves ponies.

 

SODOM &GOMORRAH: Carl Schmitt presents a consistent critique of liberalism.  Authors on the right such as Leo Strauss and Hermann Rauschning have contended that Schmitt was neither right wing nor consistent, but this author feels he was both.  For one, Rauschning's sensibilities were likely to be offended by Schmitt's emphasis on the universal conflict; he was likely to see there the seed of fascism that was responsible for Schmitt's membership in the party.  He likely saw a man who joined the party, then proceeded to praise the struggle of the age.  There was no need to dig any further.  Strauss, on the other hand, saw past Schmitt's alleged fascism and deserves credit for ironing out some of Schmitt's issues, but still fundamentally misunderstood his position.
 
The writings of Carl Schmitt provide a strange clarity to our current situation.
 
Whether one wants to discuss the role of theology in politics, the contradictions of parliamentary democracy, or the power of myth, Schmitt has insight to help us. The value that he brings to the debate about politics is a clear identification of opponents. The battle for the soul of humanity has been underway for some time; Schmitt calls us to take sides and rightly points out that the refusal to choose a side is an abdication to evil and a choice in itself.  
 
At the base of his politics is faith. This project aims to understand the Schmittian literature in depth so that we can understand Carl Schmitt's faith, our faith, and the nature of the spiritual struggle at work in our society. More of Schmitt's work is being translated from German showing a renewed interest in his work; we must do our part and interpret them for our needs.

Book Review: Carl Schmitt's The Concept of the Political

SODOM &GOMORRAH: Carl Schmitt presents a consistent critique of liberalism. Authors on the right such as Leo Strauss and Hermann Rauschning have contended that Schmitt was neither right wing nor consistent, but this author feels he was both. For one, Rauschning's sensibilities were likely to be offended by Schmitt's emphasis on the universal conflict; he was likely to see there the seed of fascism that was responsible for Schmitt's membership in the party. He likely saw a man who joined the party, then proceeded to praise the struggle of the age. There was no need to dig any further. Strauss, on the other hand, saw past Schmitt's alleged fascism and deserves credit for ironing out some of Schmitt's issues, but still fundamentally misunderstood his position.

Sovereign is He Who Decides the Exception

SODOM & GOMORRAH: Members of the US Congress are feeling left out of the reindeer games in Libya.  It seems they actually believe the illusion that sovereign power resides in the three branches of the US Federal Government.