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China's Schmittian Space - Carl #Schmitt in #China: Xi Jinping, the Belt and Road, and Global Power
Carl Schmitt (卡尔·施密特, Kǎ’ěr Shīmìtè) was one of the most controversial political theorists of the 20th century. His ideas on sovereignty (主权, Zhǔquán), the state of exception (例外状态, Lìwài Zhuàngtài), and the friend–enemy distinction (朋友–敌人区分, Péngyǒu–Dírén Qūfēn) are alive in Chinese politics today — influencing Xi Jinping (习近平, Xí Jìnpíng), the Belt and Road Initiative (一带一路, Yīdài Yīlù), and Marxism with Chinese Characteristics (中国特色社会主义, Zhōngguó Tèsè Shèhuìzhǔyì).
This podcast explores:
How Schmitt’s ideas entered China via intellectuals like Liu Xiaofeng (刘小枫) and Qiang Shigong (强世功)
Xi Jinping’s use of sovereignty, security, and struggle (斗争, Dòuzhēng)
The Belt and Road Initiative as a Schmittian “Grossraum” (大空间理论, Dàkōngjiān Lǐlùn)
Parallels between Xi and Trump (特朗普, Tèlǎngpǔ) on exceptionalism and emergency powers
References
Brady, Anne-Marie. 2017. China’s Thought Management. Journal of Democracy 28(3): 51–65.
Brautigam, Deborah. 2020. A Critical Look at Chinese ‘Debt-Trap Diplomacy’. Johns Hopkins SAIS China Africa Research Initiative.
Callahan, William A. 2018. “National Insecurities: Humiliation, Salvation, and Chinese Nationalism.” Alternatives 43(3): 142–164.
Cho, Young Nam, and Mark R. Thompson. 2022. Schmitt in Beijing: Sovereignty and the Political in China’s Rise. London: Routledge.
He, Weifang (贺卫方). 2010. 《中国法治的困境》 [The Predicament of Rule of Law in China]. 北京: 三联书店.
Jones, Lee, and Jinghan Zeng. 2019. “Understanding China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’: Beyond ‘Grand Strategy’ to a State Transformation Analysis.” Third World Quarterly 40(8): 1415–1439.
Liu, Xiaofeng (刘小枫). 2006. 《施密特政治神学》 [Schmitt’s Political Theology]. 上海: 华夏出版社.
Mehring, Reinhard. 2014. Carl Schmitt: A Biography. Cambridge: Polity.
Qiang, Shigong (强世功). 2012. 《宪法与政治》 [Constitution and Politics]. 北京: 法律出版社.
Restad, Hilde Eliassen. 2014. American Exceptionalism: An Idea that Made a Nation and Remade the World. London: Routledge.
Rubenstein, David. 2019. “Emergency Powers and the Trump Presidency.” Emory Law Journal 68(3): 1–39.
Schmitt, Carl. 1996 [1932]. The Concept of the Political. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Schmitt, Carl. 2005 [1922]. Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Schmitt, Carl. 2011 [1939]. Writings on War. Cambridge: Polity.
Xi, Jinping (习近平). 2014. “坚持总体国家安全观.” [Uphold the Comprehensive National Security Concept]. Qiushi Journal.
Xi, Jinping (习近平). 2019. “在中央党校中青年干部培训班开班式上的讲话.” [Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Training Program for Young and Middle-aged Cadres at the Central Party School]. People’s Daily.
Zhang, Chenchen. 2016. “Carl Schmitt in China.” Positions: Asia Critique 24(1): 1–28.
王沪宁. 1991. 《政治的人生》 [The Life of Politics]. 上海: 复旦大学出版社.
Would you like me to also produce a slide-deck outline (PowerPoint/PDF) with these key points + Chinese characters/pinyin highlighted — something you could use to visually accompany the podcast or upload for your audience?
Carl Schmitt China
Carl Schmitt Xi Jinping
Carl Schmitt Belt and Road
一带一路 political theory
Marxism with Chinese Characteristics
Carl Schmitt political theology
Carl Schmitt Grossraum theory
Schmitt friend enemy distinction
Schmitt sovereignty China
Xi Jinping state of exception
China political theory podcast
Trump Schmitt exceptionalism
Carl Schmitt and Chinese politics today
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