Episode #133 - Carl Schmitt on Liberalism Pt. 2
Carl Schmitt on Liberalism Pt. 2
In part two of the series on Carl Schmitt, the podcast explores his belief that liberalism’s promise of tolerance, peace, and rational governance is an illusion that masks the enduring nature of political conflict. Schmitt argues that all politics is grounded in a fundamental distinction between friends and enemies, a reality liberalism tries to deny by promoting multiculturalism and consensus over confrontation. According to Schmitt, this denial leads to apathetic societies disconnected from political identity, vulnerable to authoritarian takeover in times of crisis. He sees liberalism not as a peaceful alternative but as a system that suppresses the political by avoiding decisive action and masking sovereignty behind constitutional norms. The episode positions Schmitt’s critique as a foundation for understanding why fascism emerged as a serious political alternative in the 20th century, rooted in a rejection of liberalism’s utopian ambitions and its failure to account for the true nature of political life.
Further Reading:
The Concept of the Political by Carl Schmitt (Expanded Edition, 2007)
Carl Schmitt's Critique of Liberalism: Against Politics as Technology by John P. McCormick (1997)
Law as Politics: Carl Schmitt's Critique of Liberalism edited by David Dyzenhaus (1998)
See the full transcript here.
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