Carl Schmitt Reading Group

In a biweekly reading group, the Knowledge Lab examines the global reception of the German constitutional theorist Carl Schmitt (1888-1985). Given his prominent role in National Socialist jurisprudence (“Crown Jurist of the Third Reich”), his appeal to the New Right is understandable. Yet, remarkably, his ideas also attract interest among contemporary left-wing and progressive thinkers—whether through clear opposition (Jürgen Habermas) or selective appropriation (Chantal Mouffe, Giorgio Agamben). The same holds true for prominent postcolonial and decolonial theorists (Achille Mbembe, Walter Mignolo), who receive particular attention in area studies.

By probing the boundary between law and politics through the state of exception, the friend/enemy distinction, and the Großraum theory (theory of great spaces), Schmitt provides numerous points of departure for a critique of liberal democracy. The reading group not only examines the reception and applicability of his concepts but also highlights the epistemic risks posed by the appropriation and normalization of Schmitt’s theories in academic and public discourse. The initial hypothesis is that this resonance in contemporary knowledge infrastructures poses particular challenges for the scholarly engagement with Japan.

The discussions focus on how the conceptual frameworks developed by Schmitt influence models of order in Asia and Europe. Particular attention is given to the role of great powers such as China and Russia, where Schmitt's concepts are employed to legitimize geopolitical claims. The reading group serves as an interdisciplinary forum that bridges Japanese studies, political science, and intellectual history.

In this way, the Knowledge Lab contributes to a deeper understanding of the ongoing upheavals in the global order, which cannot be fully captured by the term “Zeitenwende” (historic turning point), a term that gained prominence following a speech by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. By identifying issues in the reception of Carl Schmitt’s ideas and critically examining their implications, participants develop alternative perspectives on power, sovereignty, and global governance while reflecting on the challenges these theories pose for knowledge production.