Schmitt, Carl (1888-1985)

Carl Schmitt (1888-1985) was a conservative German public lawyer and political theorist. Schmitt is best known for his trenchant critique of liberal constitutionalism, parliamentary democracy, and legal cosmopolitanism. His contributions to debate on these issues continue to attract scholarly attention today, but they are considered to be highly controversial, due to Schmitt's association with National Socialism. This article presents an overview of the key themes and arguments in Schmitt's major writings, and it offers an assessment of Schmitt's relevance for contemporary political, legal, and constitutional theory. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.