Political Atheism: Towards a Profane Reconceptualization of the Modern State

Publikation: Bidrag til bog/antologi/rapportBidrag til bog/antologiForskningpeer review

Abstract

The modern state is defined by its sovereignty. But the idea of state sovereignty remains strange and paradoxical: on the one hand, it is identified with the various institutions that make up the practical existence of the modern state and, on the other hand, it supposedly transcends and determines them. Carl Schmitt’s 1922 Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty traced the origins of this paradox to the theological origins and structure of the idea of state sovereignty, which continues to distort our conception of the modern state. However, Schmitt remained enthralled by this idea and it is therefore necessary to read Schmitt against Schmitt, in order to extricate his analysis of the historical origins and conceptual structure of our idea of the modern state from his adherence to this political theology. In order to do this, I recover the obscured origins of his concept of political theology in the works of Mikhail Bakunin and deploy this to (re-)invert Schmitt’s political theology and develop a profane account of political theology and its entwinement with the earthly existence of the modern state.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TitelPolitical Theology Today : 100 Years After Carl Schmitt
RedaktørerMitchell Dean, Lotte List, Stefan Schwarzkopf
Antal sider15
UdgivelsesstedLondon
ForlagBloomsbury Academic
Publikationsdato23 feb. 2023
Udgave1
Sider45-59
Kapitel3
ISBN (Trykt)9781350344518
ISBN (Elektronisk)9781350344525
StatusUdgivet - 23 feb. 2023
BegivenhedPolitical Theology Today: A Virtual Workshop Series marking the 2022 Centenary of Carl Schmitt’s Political Theology - Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Danmark
Varighed: 20 okt. 202010 feb. 2021

Konference

KonferencePolitical Theology Today
LokationCopenhagen Business School
Land/OmrådeDanmark
ByCopenhagen
Periode20/10/202010/02/2021

Emneord

  • Sovereignty
  • Political theology
  • Carl Schmitt
  • Mikhail Bakunin
  • State theory
  • Political theory

Citer dette