All law is situational law. The sovereign produces and guarantees the situation in its totality. He has the monopoly over this last decision.
Carl SchmittRead
Sovereign is he who decides on the exception.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that true power lies in the ability to determine what is normal and what constitutes an exception to the rule.
Carl Schmitt's quote implies that sovereignty and authority are defined not just by the exercise of power in regular circumstances, but more crucially by the ability to make decisions during times of crisis or exception. The sovereign has the ultimate say in determining how laws are applied and when they may be suspended, highlighting the relationship between power, law, and decision-making in political theory.
Themes
SovereigntyExceptionPowerAuthorityDecision
In practice
Example use cases
During a political debate when discussing the nature of leadership in crises.
More from Carl Schmitt
All quotes βAll significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts.
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