Why should one be interested in the theological dimension within the project of modern politics? On the Chinese acceptance of Carl Schmitt's political theology. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shuangli, Zhang
• Editors: Boer, Roland
• Is Part Of: Critical research on religion. Volume 2:Number 1(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: Carl Schmitt -- Karl Marx -- modern politics -- political theology; Religion -- Periodicals; Religion -- Research -- Periodicals; Religion and sociology -- Periodicals; Religion and politics -- Periodicals; 200.5
• DOI: 10.1177/2050303214520779
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-3032

Abstract

Why has Schmitt's political theology been influential among some Chinese scholars? It is pointed out in this article that this special phenomenon resulted from the Chinese awareness of the deep crisis within modern politics as well as the Chinese hope for the alternative model of modern politics. To these Chinese scholars, Schmitt, by making clear the hidden theological dimension of modern politics, seems to have offered both a sharp criticism of the tendency of mechanization of the state and a creative proposal to save modern politics. Based on the analysis of the reasons for these Chinese scholars' preference for Schmitt's political theology to Marx's criticism of modern politics, it is also argued that this acceptance of Schmitt's political theology could actually hamper the Chinese efforts toward new possibilities of modern politics.