Democracy and the Politics of the Extraordinary : Max Weber, Carl Schmitt, and Hannah Arendt

Although the modern age is often described as the age of democratic revolutions, the subject of popular foundings has not captured the imagination of contemporary political thought. Most of the time, democratic theory and political science treat as the object of their inquiry normal politics, institutionalized power, and consolidated democracies. The aim of Andreas Kalyvas' study is to show why it is important for democratic theory to rethink the question of its beginnings. Is there a founding unique to democracies? Can a democracy be democratically established? What are the implications of expanding democratic politics in light of the question of whether and how to address democracy's beginnings? Kalyvas addresses these questions and scrutinizes the possibility of democratic beginnings in terms of the category of the extraordinary, as he reconstructs it from the writings of Max Weber, Carl Schmitt, and Hannah Arendt and their views on the creation of new political, symbolic, and constitutional orders. Although The Modern Age Is Often Described As The Age Of Democratic Revolutions, The Subject Of Popular Founding Has Not Captured The Imagination Of Contemporary Political Thought. Most Of The Time, Democratic Theory And Political Science Treat As The Object Of Their Inquiry Normal Politics, Institutionalized Power, And Consolidated Democracies. The Aim Of Andreas Kalyvas's Study Is To Show Why It Is Important For Democratic Theorists To Rethink The Question Of Democracy's Beginnings. Is There A Founding Unique To Democracies? Can A Democracy Be Democratically Established? What Are The Implications Of Expanding Democratic Politics In Light Of The Question Of Whether And How To Address Democracy's Beginnings? Kalyvas Addresses These Questions And Scrutinizes The Possibility Of Democratic Beginnings In Terms Of The Category Of The Extraordinary, As He Reconstructs It From The Writings Of Max Weber, Carl Schmitt, And Hannah Arendt And Their Views On The Creation Of New Political, Symbolic, And Constitutional Orders.--book Jacket. Charismatic Politics And The Symbolic Foundations Of Power : Max Weber -- Revisiting Weber's Concept Of The Political -- Charismatic Politics -- Disavowing Charismatic Politics -- The Exception And Constitutional Politics : Carl Schmitt -- The Popular Constituent Sovereign And The Pure Theory Of Democratic Legitimacy -- Toward A Theory Of Democratic Constitutionalism -- The Extra-institutional Sovereign -- Taming The Extraordinary : Hannah Arendt -- Extraordinary Beginnings I : Arendt's Critique Of Schmitt -- Extraordinary Beginnings Ii : Arendt's Response To Schmitt -- The Republic Of Councils : Beyond Democracy And Liberalism? -- Conclusion: A Democratic Theory Of The Extraordinary. Andreas Kalyvas. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 301-319) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Abbreviations......Page 11 Introduction......Page 13 PART I CHARISMATIC POLITICS AND THE SYMBOLIC FOUNDATIONS OF POWER......Page 29 1 Revisiting Weber's Concept of the Political......Page 41 Liberalism and the Political......Page 50 Marxism and the Political......Page 53 2 Charismatic Politics......Page 58 Religion, Ideology, and the Symbolic......Page 61 Domination, Legitimacy, and Charismatic Politics......Page 66 3 Disavowing Charismatic Politics......Page 77 PART II THE EXCEPTION AND CONSTITUTIONAL POLITICS......Page 91 Sovereignty and Dictatorship......Page 100 The Popular Sovereign and Democracy......Page 108 Schmitt's Challenge to Kelsen's Pure Theory of Law......Page 112 5 Toward a Theory of Democratic Constitutionalism......Page 139 What Is a Constitution?......Page 141 Schmitt as a Defender of Constitutionalism......Page 150 From Schmitt to Ackerman and Back to Schmitt......Page 175 Popular Assemblies and the Extra-Institutional Sovereign......Page 186 PART III TAMING THE EXTRAORDINARY......Page 199 7 Extraordinary Beginnings I......Page 206 Political Freedom as Founding......Page 212 Against Sovereignty......Page 222 These Impossible Absolute Beginnings......Page 235 8 Extraordinary Beginnings II......Page 244 The Founding Compact......Page 245 The Immanent Principle: Arendt and Habermas......Page 253 9 The Republic of Councils......Page 266 From the Constituent Power to the Constituted Republic......Page 276 The Problem of Representation......Page 292 The Moment of Civil Disobedience......Page 295 Conclusion......Page 304 Bibliography......Page 313 Index......Page 333 Although the modern age is often described as the age of democratic revolutions, the subject of popular founding has not captured the imagination of contemporary political thought. Most of the time, democratic theory and political science treat as the object of their inquiry normal politics, institutionalized power, and consolidated democracies. This study shows why it is important for democratic theory to rethink the question of democracy's beginnings. Is there a founding unique to democracies? Can a democracy be democratically established? What are the implications of expanding democratic politics in light of the question of whether and how to address democracy's beginnings? Kalyvas addresses these questions and scrutinizes the possibility of democratic beginnings in terms of the category of the extraordinary, as he reconstructs it from the writings of Max Weber, Carl Schmitt, and Hannah Arendt and their views on the creation of new political, symbolic, and constitutional orders. Using the writings of Max Weber, Carl Schmitt, and Hannah Arendt, Kalyvas explores a democratic politics of the extraordinary that integrates the 'how', 'when', and 'by whom' a constitutional government is created, in order to enlarge our understanding of democracy, radical politics, popular sovereignty, and political freedom.