From teleology to eschatology: The katechon and the political theology of the international law of belligerent occupation

• While contemporary international law is often understood as teleological, encompassing notions such as progress, development, and prosperity for all of human kind, in this essay the field of the international law of belligerent occupation is read as katechonic, as embodying the figure of the katechon within international law’s eschatology. The essay considers Carl Schmitt’s political theology through his employment of the figure of the katechon, as well as Schmitt’s brief notes on international law of belligerent occupation. The reading that follows is an attempt to put Schmitt’s famous claim that ‘all significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts’ to use and to point to the contemporary relevance of Schmitt’s scholarship.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Juridik -- Juridik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Law -- Law (hsv//eng)

Keyword

the katechon

Carl Schmitt

allmän rättslära

international law of belligerent occupation

eschatology

jurisprudence

Publication and Content Type

kap (subject category)

ref (subject category)