Carl Schmitt, the “Greatest Enemy of Liberalism?”

Authors

  • BERNARD MANIN CIDE

Keywords:

Schmitt, liberalism, antiliberalism, deliberation, political theory

Abstract

Carl Schmitt has been considered by some authors as one of the most acute critics of liberalpolitical thought. According to these authors, the German jurist seriously cuestionedthe foundations of liberalism, thus becoming its greatest enemy. This essay rejectsthis widely spread idea. It argues that, to prepare his attack, Schmitt elaborated an unacurateand incomplete version of liberalism. Nevertheless, an authentic vision of this politicaltradition passes unharmed to his criticism. Through a brief analysis of Montesquieu,Madison and Mills political thought, and through a review of historical evidence,this work exposes the weaknesses and deficiencies of Carl Schmitts antiliberalism.

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Bibliographic essays
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How to Cite

MANIN, B. (2003). Carl Schmitt, the “Greatest Enemy of Liberalism?”. Política Y Gobierno, 10(2), 401-412. http://www.politicaygobierno.cide.edu/index.php/pyg/article/view/345

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