My colleague, Prof. Reed van Schenk, and I have started a podcast! Our plan is to offer an in-depth exploration of various thinkers whose work we see as relevant to our current political climate.

This inaugural episode launches our exploration into Carl Schmitt (1888–1985), the notorious German jurist and political theorist whose unrepentant support of the Nazi regime casts a long shadow. Despite his pedigree, Schmitt’s work remains highly relevant as one of the most decisive intellectual challenges to the legitimacy of modern liberal democracies.

Join Reed and I as we explore Schmitt’s early, influential text, “Roman Catholicism and Political Form.” In this work, Schmitt makes sets out his case for the Catholic Church as the ideal template for political legitimacy. We consider his argument that the Church, due to its inherent capacity for definitive and authoritative form, provides the necessary structure and basis for a universal, stable, normative political order.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rolfstromolsen.substack.com