Carl Schmitt ranks among the most original and controversial
political thinkers of the twentieth century. His incisive
criticisms of Enlightenment political thought and liberal political
practice remain as shocking and significant today as when they
first appeared in Weimar Germany. Unavailable in English until now,
Legality and Legitimacy was composed in 1932, in the midst of the
crisis that would lead to the collapse of the Weimar Republic and
only a matter of months before Schmitt’s collaboration with the
Nazis. In this important work, Schmitt questions the political
viability of liberal constitutionalism, parliamentary government,
and the rule of law. Liberal governments, he argues, cannot respond
effectively to challenges by radical groups like the Nazis or
Communists. Only a presidential regime subject to few, if any,
practical limitations can ensure domestic security in a highly
pluralistic society.Legality and Legitimacy is sure to provide a
compelling reference point in contemporary debates over the
challenges facing constitutional democracies today. In addition to
Jeffrey Seitzer’s translation of the 1932 text itself, this
volume contains his translation of Schmitt’s 1958 commentary on
the work, extensive explanatory notes, and an appendix including
selected articles of the Weimar constitution. John P. McCormick’s
introduction places Legality and Legitimacy in its historical
context, clarifies some of the intricacies of the argument, and
ultimately contests Schmitt’s claims regarding the inherent
weakness of parliamentarism, constitutionalism, and the rule of
law.
General
Imprint: |
Duke University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
February 2004 |
First published: |
February 2004 |
Authors: |
Carl Schmitt
|
Translators: |
Jeffrey Seitzer
|
Dimensions: |
216 x 140 x 13mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Trade
|
Pages: |
216 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-8223-3174-2 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-8223-3174-8 |
Barcode: |
9780822331742 |
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