Given the renaissance of Carl Schmitt, which has even more intensified due to the populist surge Footnote 4, it is important to recall that in the German political tradition, insightful – but to non-German audiences lesser-known – political thinkers existed who were critical of Schmittianism and the German tradition of anti-democratic thought.

Footnote 2 Moreover, in the context of political disintegration and democratic deconsolidation Footnote 3, how political thought of the Federal Republic engaged with the recurring issues of political integration and democratization is also of relevance.Īgainst this backdrop, a renewed reflection on the sources of integration seems particularly urgent. It is no wonder that recent contributions on the erosion of democratic regimes and on shortcomings of contemporary liberalism are picking up questions that were likewise at the centre of debate during its crucial phases, especially throughout the Weimar era between the two World Wars. In this time of crisis, German political thought reappears as timely. Liberal democracies have become highly politicized and even contested, as manifested most saliently by BREXIT and populists’ attacks on institutions and elites in multiple countries.

If transnational and even global approaches are current, Footnote 1 why focus on German political thought?įirst, stability of established democracies cannot be taken for granted anymore. A special issue that focuses primarily, albeit not solely, on German political thought seems to be in need of justification – especially if one considers that conventional ways of doing intellectual history and exploring historical political thought are increasingly being challenged.

John bew realpolitik