Carl Schmitt

Carl Schmitt was a German political theorist known for his ideas on sovereignty and the nature of authority. He famously defined the sovereign as someone who can decide the state of exception, meaning they can make decisions in crises that suspend normal law. Schmitt emphasized the relationship between authority and power, arguing that real political power lies in the ability to define and respond to existential threats. His philosophy of law critiques liberalism, suggesting it fails to address the realities of political conflict and decision-making, emphasizing that law and politics are deeply intertwined in maintaining order and authority in society.