Modern Constitutional Legitimacy and Political Theology: Schmitt, Peterson and Blumenberg

In this article, an important set of general themes will be examined in relation to the ongoing problematization of the legitimacy of modern constitutionalism within a body of work that largely draws on Carl Schmitt’s political theology. In particular, however, the themes discussed in this article will focus on the later, post-war stages of his work contained in the brief, but dense volume entitled, Political Theology II. This work involves a sustained confrontation with the theologian Erik Peterson and the historian of ideas Hans Blumenberg, a confrontation which helps to shed light on the broader significance of Schmitt’s work.