694204
book-review2017
PSW0010.1177/1478929917694204Political Studies ReviewBook Review – Political Theory
Book Review – Political Theory
Book Review
Janus’s Gaze: Essays on Carl Schmitt by
Carlo Galli. Durham; London: Duke University
Press, 2015. 183pp., £16.99 (p/b), ISBN
9780822360322
For many Schmitt scholars unable to read in
Italian, the translation of Carlo Galli’s Janus’s
Gaze is a very welcome – and relatively long-
awaited – development. As one of the most
thoughtful and well-versed critics of Schmitt,
Galli is one of the few authors whose ideas and
writings traverse the ‘for’ and ‘against’ divide
which still characterises the reception of the
German legal and political thinker (hence, the
book’s title is particularly apt).
The essays contained in the volume certainly
vary in their aim and scope. The first two chap-
ters, analysing Schmitt’s views on the state and
political theology, are relevant – and a must-read
– for everybody interested in Schmitt. Galli is
able to trace the origins and implications of two
of the most fundamental Schmittian concepts
(the others being, of course, sovereignty and the
political), constructing a rich, potent and thought-
provoking account of Schmitt’s intellectual
agenda. These are followed by two rather more
specialist chapters, charting Schmitt’s intellec-
tual engagements with other thinks, notably
Machiavelli and Spinoza, and Leo Strauss’ read-
ing of Schmitt. Although relations between
Schmitt, Machiavelli and Strauss have previ-
ously come under some scrutiny, Spinoza has,
until now, remained a rather ignored interlocutor.
For a more generalist audience, however,
these chapters may not offer immediate gratifi-
cation, despite still being undoubtedly illumi-
nating as to the broader context of Schmitt’s
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thought. The final chapter, meanwhile, takes
the reader back to the fundamental issues by
taking as its subject matter the applicability of
Schmitt to the current global era. Arguing
against the various contemporary appropria-
tions of Schmitt’s ideas, Galli provides a pow-
erful and, as ever, well-researched and
thoughtful case as to why Schmittian thought
has already exceeded its use-by date. Although
not incontestable, Galli’s argument will
undoubtedly prove to be a major challenge
(and one that cannot be ignored) for anyone
aiming to provide a Schmitt-inspired interpre-
tation of today’s events.
As demonstrated above, the book should
clearly be considered a success. Indeed, Janus’s
Gaze is a must for anyone with an interest in
Schmittian thought and, more broadly, perhaps
for anyone wishing to understand debates in
contemporary political theory better. While not
necessarily serving as a good introduction to a
novice (it is not intended to), the book is both
compelling and well written (credit should also
go to Amanda Minervini for her translation). In
short, this newly translated volume certainly
meets the high expectations of Galli’s work
and confirms his reputation as one of the lead-
ing Schmitt experts.
Ignas Kalpokas
(Vytautas Magnus University;
ISM University of Management
and Economics;
LCC International University)
© The Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/1478929917694204
journals.sagepub.com/home/psrev