Radio Free never accepts money from corporations, governments or billionaires – keeping the focus on supporting independent media for people, not profits. Since 2010, Radio Free has supported the work of thousands of independent journalists, learn more about how your donation helps improve journalism for everyone.

Make a monthly donation of any amount to support independent media.





The Enemy Paradox

January 22, 2023

Thoughts on Friends and Enemies in International Relations & Politics

by Scott Remer

Carl Schmitt, the Nazi whose thought is still inexplicably in vogue at various Anglo-American poli…

Thoughts on Friends and Enemies in International Relations & Politics

Carl Schmitt, the Nazi whose thought is still inexplicably in vogue at various Anglo-American political science departments, believed that the fundamental political distinction is the division between “friend” and “enemy.” That this division underlies much of politics, even in societies with the most genteel of political systems, is undeniable. On the Left, we view politics as a power struggle, a conflict between workers and capitalists, a battle between advocates of genuine democracy and adherents of economic and political autocracy. But members of the far right in many Western countries seem to be reviving the notion in a more violent, disturbing way. Trump’s rhetoric about the press, the Left, and other bugbears of his being “enemies of the people” culminated quite recently in the January 6 insurrection. Recent concerns about polarization and the calcification of domestic divisions between friend and foe have motivated a slew of op-eds and books about tribalism in the United States and Western Europe. In societies plagued by civil war or gang violence, the friend-enemy distinction is much more apparent. But it’s in the space between societies where the friend-enemy dichotomy becomes most salient: in fact, it is central to most international relations analyses.
To read this article, log in here or subscribe here.
If you are logged in but can't read CP+ articles, check the status of your access here
In order to read CP+ articles, your web browser must be set to accept cookies.

Scott Remer has published in venues such as In These Times, Africa Is a Country, Common Dreams, OpenDemocracy, Philosophy Now, Philosophical Salon, and International Affairs.

Read over 400 magazine and newsletter back issues here

Make a tax-deductible monthly or one-time donation and enjoy access to CP+.  Donate Now

Support our evolving Subscribe Area and enjoy access to all Subscribers content.  Subscribe


This content originally appeared on CounterPunch.org and was authored by Scott Remer.


Print Share Comment Cite Upload Translate Updates

Leave a Reply

APA

Scott Remer | Radio Free (2023-01-22T06:01:12+00:00) The Enemy Paradox. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2023/01/22/the-enemy-paradox/

MLA
" » The Enemy Paradox." Scott Remer | Radio Free - Sunday January 22, 2023, https://www.radiofree.org/2023/01/22/the-enemy-paradox/
HARVARD
Scott Remer | Radio Free Sunday January 22, 2023 » The Enemy Paradox., viewed ,<https://www.radiofree.org/2023/01/22/the-enemy-paradox/>
VANCOUVER
Scott Remer | Radio Free - » The Enemy Paradox. [Internet]. [Accessed ]. Available from: https://www.radiofree.org/2023/01/22/the-enemy-paradox/
CHICAGO
" » The Enemy Paradox." Scott Remer | Radio Free - Accessed . https://www.radiofree.org/2023/01/22/the-enemy-paradox/
IEEE
" » The Enemy Paradox." Scott Remer | Radio Free [Online]. Available: https://www.radiofree.org/2023/01/22/the-enemy-paradox/. [Accessed: ]
rf:citation
» The Enemy Paradox | Scott Remer | Radio Free | https://www.radiofree.org/2023/01/22/the-enemy-paradox/ |

Please log in to upload a file.




There are no updates yet.
Click the Upload button above to add an update.

You must be logged in to translate posts. Please log in or register.