The Total Enemy. An approach to the thought of Carl Schmitt under the sign of the Third Reich (1931-1945)

Abstract

In this article we propose an approach to the most controversial and least revisited stage of the work of the German jurist Carl Schmitt: that which takes place during the rise and fall of Nazism. Taking into account the author's adherence to the National Socialist government, we are guided by a series of broader research questions about the relationship between morality, law and politics as well as the interest in investigating the legal foundations of illiberal governments. We are interested, at a more specific level, in exploring the tension in the work of the most important jurist of Nazism between the configuration of a pluriverse of nations, the rise of a German Empire and the promotion of totalitarianism as a true form of democracy. Without attempting to make an exhaustive review or a phylogeny of Schmitt's concepts, or of his interlocutors, we seek to critically observe the plot points in a series of books, articles and conferences made by Carl Schmitt during the rise, development and fall of the National Socialist dictatorship. For this, we will divide our work into a first section that will outline some interpretations and approaches to the use of the work of the German jurist, and then, in a second section, we will concentrate on the Schmittian works that appeared during the period.

 Enviado el (Submission Date): 27/01/2025

Aceptado el (Acceptance Date): 14/03/2025