Carl Schmitt and Democratic Backsliding

Abstract

This Critical Exchange suggests that Schmittian inspirations abound in countries that experience democratic backsliding. Sometimes, Schmitt's ideas are used explicitly, but more often they are implicit in the actions of political elites. Schmitt's concepts belong to the repertoire of authoritarian actors who aim to demolish, delegitimize, and ridicule liberal democracy. This suggests the need for a more critical reading of Schmitt as an ideologue of authoritarianism rather than a concerned critic of liberal democracy.