Carl Schmitt's International Thought: Order and Orientation

"An unrepentant Nazi, Carl Schmitt remains one of the most divisive figures in twentieth century political thought. In recent years, his ideas have attracted a new and growing audience. This book seeks to cut through the controversy surrounding Schmitt to analyse his ideas on world order. In so doing, it takes on board Schmitt's critique of the condition of order in late modernity, and considers Schmitt's continued relevance. Consideration is given to the two devices Schmitt deploys, the Grossraum and the Partisan, and argues that neither concept lives up to its claim to transcend or reform Schmitt's pessimistic history of the state. The author concludes that Schmitt's continuing value lies in his provocative historical critique, rather than his conceptual innovation"--Provided by publisher.

"It is not uncommon for the end of wars to herald the sentiment that 'nothing will ever be the same again.' To be sure, wars leave scars both emotional and physical. They leave tales of loss and instincts of vengeance. But in the political theory of Carl Schmitt, war is above all a political act. 'War is the existential negation of the enemy.' It leaves concrete changes in the configuration of politics. It draws new lines on maps, and creates new lines of authority of men over other men. No matter how infrequent or limited, warfare is a necessary corollary of Schmitt's understanding of political life"--Provided by publisher.