Since his death, the writings of Carl Schmitt (1888-1985) have been debated, cited, and adopted by political and legal thinkers on both the left and right with increasing frequency, though not without controversy given Schmitt's unwavering support for National Socialism before and during World War II. In Perilous Futures, Peter Uwe Hohendahl calls for critical scrutiny of Schmitt's later writings, the work in which Schmitt wrestles with concerns that retain present-day relevance: globalization, asymmetrical warfare, and the shifting international order. Hohendahl argues that Schmitt's work seems to offer solutions to these present-day issues, although the ambiguity of his beliefs means that Schmitt's later work is a problematic guide.

Focusing on works Schmitt published after the war-including The Nomos of the Earth, Theory of the Partisan and Political Theology II-as well as his posthumously published diaries, Hohendahl reads these works critically against the backdrop of their biographical and historical contexts, he charts the shift in Schmitt's perspective from a German nationalist focus to a European and then international agenda, while attending to both the conceptual and theoretical continuities with his prewar work and addressing the tension between the specific circumstances in which Schmitt was writing and the later international appropriation. Crossing disciplines of history, political theory, international relations, German studies, and political philosophy, Hohendahl brings Schmitt's later writings into contemporary discourse and forces us to reexamine what we believe about Carl Schmitt.

About the Author

Uwe Peter Hohendahl is Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of German and Comparative Literature at Cornell University. Among his many books are Building a National Literature; Reappraisals; and The Fleeting Promise of Art.

Reviews

It is on the whole a careful discussion of these works that neither ignores Schmitt's shortcomings and his close connection to the Nazis, nor treats his works as motivated merely by self-justification. For those who seek to understand Schmitt's postwar writings this is a useful companion.

* Choice *

"Is There a Usable Schmitt?"-the subtitle of Peter Hohendahl's conclusion encapsulates the thematic thrust of Perilous Futures. It is also one of the most pressing and contentious questions in political and legal theory around the globe.

* The Germanic Review *

An important book.

* Monatshefte *

Hohendahl expresses a refreshing skepticism towards the enthusiastic appropriation of Schmittian ideas by many scholars on the left in the Anglophone world, especially in the field of international relations.... The volume is organized around insightful readings of key texts from Schmitt's career... Partisans and foes of Schmitt alike will benefit from his scrupulous exploration and fair-minded judgment of the work.

* American Historical Review *



Book Information
ISBN 9781501764585
Author Peter Uwe Hohendahl
Format Paperback
Page Count 246
Imprint Cornell University Press
Publisher Cornell University Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 18mm