Carl Schmitt
German jurist and political theorist · 1888–1985
Carl Schmitt was a German jurist and political theorist who wrote The Concept of the Political and Political Theology. He defined politics as the distinction between friend and enemy and joined the Nazi Party in 1933, providing legal justifications for the regime.
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Estimated from their documented words and actions. A simplification, not a verdict.
Opposed pluralism and defended the Reich's power over states such as Prussia in 1932.
Defended dictatorship and legal justifications for Nazi rule.
Argued sovereign power decides on the state of exception.
Criticised universalism and the League of Nations; defended national sovereignty.
Saw the friend-enemy distinction as the essence of politics.
Stressed national homogeneity as a basis of democracy, and supported Nazi racial laws.
No strong recorded view on economic equality.
Advocated a 'strong state' combined with a free economy.
Supported the idea of large regional blocs ('Großraum').
Argued political concepts are secularised theological concepts, from a Catholic standpoint.
Defended authority and order against liberal modernity.
Criticised modern technical rationality.