The Schmittian inheritance
Title: The Schmittian inheritance
Source: Engelsberg Ideas, which can be found here.
Author: Daniel Johnson, founding editor of TheArticle.
Date of Publication: December 1, 2025
Summary: The theories of Carl Schmitt, who was a controversial German jurist who supported the Third Reich as a Nazi, have re-emerged in contemporary politics recently through UK Attorney General Lord Hermer's criticism of Conservatives allegedly echoing Schmitt's "realist" jurisprudence that favors raw power over international law. Schmitt's most dangerous contribution was his argument that liberalism and mass democracy are fundamentally incompatible, as he believed parliaments were outdated liberal institutions disconnected from the "will of the people," which can be expressed through public acclamation and even dictatorship. His legal theories helped dismantle the Weimar Republic, particularly through his defense of the 1932 Prussian coup that paved the way for Hitler's rise to power, exemplifying his doctrine that "the sovereign is he who decides on the exception." Today, Schmitt's ideas are influencing authoritarian movements globally, including US President Donald Trump's approach to presidential power, Russian President Vladimir Putin's ultranationalism through ideologue Alexander Dugin, and Germany's AfD party, which draws on Schmitt's theory of spheres of influence to justify policies like dismantling NATO. While Schmitt's influence remains limited at present, his toxic legacy continues to spread through illiberal movements that embrace emergency powers and reject constitutional constraints in favor of authoritarian rule.
The full article can be read here.
