An unrepentant Nazi, Carl Schmitt remains one of the most divisive figures in twentieth century political thought. In recent years, his ideas have attracted a new and growing audience. This book seeks to cut through the controversy surrounding Schmitt to analyse his ideas on world order. In so doing, it takes on board Schmitt’s critique of the condition of order in late modernity, and considers Schmitt’s continued relevance. Consideration is given to the two devices Schmitt deploys, the Grossraum and the Partisan, and argues that neither concept lives up to its claim to transcend or reform Schmitt’s pessimistic history of the state. The author concludes that Schmitt’s continuing value lies in his provocative historical critique, rather than his conceptual innovation.

Contents
1. Introduction; 2. Schmitt`s `International Thought`; 3. Unravelling sovereignty; 4. Histories of space; 5. Acceleration and restraint; 6. Grossraum; 7. Partisan; 8. Conclusion; Appendix; Index.

"Carl Schmitt presciently diagnosed the demise of the traditional state system, emergence of new ‘post-national’ political and legal orders, and some of the most dramatic recent changes in warfare, and he did so by fusing idiosyncratic theological ideas with a deep knowledge of political and legal theory. William Hooker`s helpful volume is the first to zoom in on Schmitt`s contributions to international political theory. Although both Schmitt`s enthusiasts and detractors will disagree with some of Hooker`s interpretations, his volume marks an important attempt to link the ever-controversial Schmitt to contemporary debates about international politics." (William E. Scheuerman, Indiana University)

"Hooker`s book is timely and thought-provoking, his meticulous reading of Schmitt`s texts casts new light on Schmitt as an apocalyptic reader of the fate of the Westphalian system in the twentieth century." (Kimberley Hutchings, The London School of Economics)