Carl Schmitt in China

This talk examines how Carl Schmitt’s political ideas are used by Chinese scholars and how their interpretations are viewed in the West.
About this Event

Carl Schmitt (1888-1985) was a German legal and political philosopher whose theories have been popular in China since the beginning of the 21st century. His ideas are widely used by Chinese academics for formulating criticisms of the global hegemony and world-universalizing interventionist policies of powerful countries. Western scholars believe that some Chinese intellectuals are also using Schmitt’s ideas to justify regional Chinese hegemony which may eventually become global. This talk explores the current interest in Carl Schmitt’s political philosophy in China and how it is perceived in the West.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Qi Zheng is currently a Scholar in Residence at the Manchester China Institute (MCI) and Assistant Professor of Political Philosophy at East China University of Political Science and Law (Shanghai). She was previously Assistant Professor of Law at East China Normal University (Shanghai). She obtained her doctoral degree from The University of Manchester (UK). Her areas of expertise are political philosophy and contemporary Chinese political theory. She has published books and articles on Carl Schmitt, including Carl Schmitt, Mao Zedong and the Politics of Transition (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015).

Accessibility

The MCI is a listed building and therefore does not have any lifts. Please note that you must use the stairs in order to access the venue and the toilets.

Photography

The organisers will be taking photos during this event. If you prefer not to be included in any photos, kindly inform the organisers before the event starts.