Synopses & Reviews
First published in Italian in 2008 and appearing here in English for the first time,
Janus's Gaze is the culmination of Carlo Galli's ongoing critique of the work of Carl Schmitt. Galli argues that Schmitt's main accomplishment, as well as the thread that unifies his oeuvre, is his construction of a genealogy of the modern that explains how modernity's compulsory drive to achieve order is both necessary and impossible. Galli addresses five key problems in Schmitt's thought: his relation to the state, the significance of his concept of political theology, his readings of Machiavelli and Spinoza, his relation to Leo Strauss, and his relevance for contemporary political theory. Galli emphasizes the importance of passing
through Schmitt’s thought—and, more importantly,
beyond Schmitt’s thought—if we are to achieve insight into the problems of the global age. Adam Sitze provides an illuminating introduction to Schmitt and Galli's reading of him.
Review
"Carlo Galli is the greatest interpreter of Carl Schmitt today. In his book, Galli reconstructs with incredible expertise the categories of 'decision,' 'sovereignty,' 'conflict,' and 'political theology' as they relate to major modern political thinkers. What ensues is a penetrating look, not solely into Schmitt's own conceptualizations, but into our contemporary moment."
Review
"Carlo Galli is certainly the most important scholar of Carl Schmitt in Italy and, to my knowledge, in the world. Among Galli's virtues is how well he situates Schmitt's concepts both in the context of Schmitt's entire opus and in the context of twentieth century German politics and political theory. Galli's essays provide brilliant explications and explorations of Schmitt's central concepts, and Adam Sitze's introduction and Amanda Minervini's translation are exemplary."
Synopsis
Appearing here in English for the first time, Janus's Gaze is the culmination of Carlo Galli's ongoing critique of the work of Carl Schmitt where he finds the unifying thread of Schmitt's work to be his creation of the genealogy of modernity.
About the Author
Carlo Galli is Professor of History of Political Theory at the University of Bologna and the author of many books, including Political Spaces and Global War.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Editor's Introduction. Carl Schmitt: An Improper Name / Adam Sitze
Preface
1. Schmitt and the State
2. Schmitt's Political Theologies
3. Schmitt and Machiavelli
4. Schmitt, Strauss, and Spinoza
5. Schmitt and the Global Era
Notes
Index