Gustav Landauer’s Anarcho-Mysticism and the Critique of Political Theology

This paper explores the anarcho-mystical thought of Gustav Landauer as a critical response to Schmitt's sovereign-centric political theology. It is argued that Landauer's thought effects a radical displacement of the concept of state sovereignty through autonomous forms of community, subje...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Political theology
Main Author: Newman, Saul 1972- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group [2020]
In: Political theology
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Landauer, Gustav 1870-1919 / Schmitt, Carl 1888-1985, Political theology / Anarchism / Mysticism
RelBib Classification:CB Christian life; spirituality
KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history
KBB German language area
ZC Politics in general
Further subjects:B Sovereignty
B Gustav Landauer
B the impolitical
B Anarchism
B anarcho-mysticism
B Carl Schmitt
B Political Theology
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Description
Summary:This paper explores the anarcho-mystical thought of Gustav Landauer as a critical response to Schmitt's sovereign-centric political theology. It is argued that Landauer's thought effects a radical displacement of the concept of state sovereignty through autonomous forms of community, subjectivity and affinity. Central here, I argue, is his notion of mystical withdrawal and spiritual self-transformation. I develop some parallels here with recent interventions in Italian (im)political thought in which the representative capacity of sovereignty is called into question. I conclude by suggesting that anarcho-mysticism, as a critical engagement with political theology, not only broadens out this category, but offers a way of interpreting new forms of activism and dissent.
ISSN:1743-1719
Contains:Enthalten in: Political theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/1462317X.2020.1747811