Conflict as a Vocation: Carl Schmitt and the Possibility of Politics  

Oleh:

Rasch, William

Jenis: Article from Journal - ilmiah internasional
Dalam koleksi: Theory, Culture & Society vol. 17 no. 6 (Des. 2000), page 1–32.
Topik: differentiation; friend/enemy distinction; pluralism; rule of law; social system; sovereignty; the state
Fulltext: 1TCAS176.pdf (125.62KB)

Isi artikel

Carl Schmitt's critique of liberal pluralism (of individuals and associations) was conducted in the name of a different pluralism, a truer pluralism, according to him, namely, the pluralism of equal and sovereign nation-states. His friend/enemy distinction dictates that conflict is the only legitimate model for politics, at least on the international level. By translating Schmitt's theory of politics as conflict into terms derived from the work of Lyotard and Luhmann, this article asks whether Schmitt's concept of the political has any relevance for the contemporary world, especially considering that the liberal pluralism of associations (or social systems) seems to have carried the day. Such a transposition requires that the modern, horizontal structure of operationally closed (but internally bifurcated) social systems be thought of as sovereign states fiercely fighting to maintain their autonomy. Thus, the common battle fought by the anti-modernist, Schmitt, the ultra-modernist, Luhmann, and the postmodernist, Lyotard, is the one against de-differentiation and the expansion of a universalist morality and economy.

Opini Anda

Klik untuk menuliskan opini Anda tentang koleksi ini!

Kembali