A “Reformed Führerprinzip”? On Schmitt’s criticism of Barth in the preface to the second edition of Political Theology

Abstract

The similarities existing between Carl Schmitt’s thought and that of Karl Barth have been noticed by a growing number of scholars. Nonetheless, there is still much that can be uncovered by comparing their ideas. The specific aim of this paper is to compare their Theologico-political projects. The starting point of my analysis will be Schmitt’s polemics with Barth and his fellows, undertaken in the preface to the second edition of Political Theology. Later in my exposition I will discuss the connections between this text and Barth’s manifesto Theological Existence Today!