Carl Schmitt in the Kremlin: the Ukraine crisis and the return of geopolitics

Abstract

The protracted crisis in Ukraine has exposed fundamental political differences between leaders in western Europe and their counterparts in Russia. The very existence of the European Union was meant to have refuted geopolitics as a useful theoretical lens through which to view power relations in Europe. After all, the European project is based on the idea that boundaries no longer matter and that national sovereignty is obsolete. And yet, geopolitics remains critically important—certainly for Europe's potential enemies, but also for Europe itself. It is poignant that to advance our understanding of this new constellation we are well served to turn to the insights of a classic, if hugely controversial, German political thinker: Carl Schmitt. Schmitt's political philosophy is relevant in three aspects. First, as a source of inspiration—even if only indirectly—for the contemporary Russian political establishment. Second, the behaviour of Putin's Russia, particularly since 2008, can be best understood through some of the key concepts that preoccupied Schmitt: sovereignty, the political and geopolitics. Third, Schmitt's philosophy can serve as a point of departure for reflecting on the possibility of a more robust response by Europe to the Russian intervention in Ukraine. What Europe needs is a more hard‐nosed realist approach, which recognizes that Russia's expansionist ambitions can only be constrained by its own readiness and willingness to deploy power both politically and, if necessary, even militarily.

Arguing Sanctions. On the EU's Response to the Crisis in Ukraine

“…However, by promoting this claim, they confirm that the events were not understood as a security crisis by the EU. Instead, as Realists also stress, the crisis represented a clash of worldviews between Russia and the EU (Auer, ; Mearsheimer, ; Rynning, ). As Auer argues, ‘In order to challenge Putin's Russia effectively, I argue, Europe and Germany should indeed reclaim geopolitics for their own purposes’ (Auer, , p. 958).…”

“…It has been suggested that the Union underestimated Russian security concerns and failed to consider that offering an association agreement to Ukraine might be seen as an infringement on Russia's sphere of influence (Kissinger, ; MacFarlane and Menon, ; Mearsheimer, ; Sakwa, ). Such criticisms are frequently accompanied by suggestions that in response to Russian aggression, the EU and ‘the West’ need to return to a foreign policy inspired by a logic of geopolitics and take into account what the authors consider ‘the realities of power’ (Auer, ; Mearsheimer, ; Rynning, ; Sakwa, ).…”

Wider Europe, Greater Europe? David Mitrany on European Security Order

“…A stream of recent publications and conference papers focusing on the EU's ‘actorness’ in response to the Russian aggression in Ukraine reinforces this narrative. Matthijs and Kelemen (, p. 100), in a tellingly‐titled article ‘Europe Reborn’, observe that ‘a resurgent Russia on Europe's doorstep has finally spurred the EU to action’. Auer () advocates that the EU adopts ‘muscular liberalism’ to more effectively confront Russia.…”

“…Matthijs and Kelemen (, p. 100), in a tellingly‐titled article ‘Europe Reborn’, observe that ‘a resurgent Russia on Europe's doorstep has finally spurred the EU to action’. Auer () advocates that the EU adopts ‘muscular liberalism’ to more effectively confront Russia. Howorth and Menon () urge EU Member States to ‘wake up’ by overcoming their anachronistic commitment to sovereignty and grasping the reality that only when unified, the EU can stand for its interests effectively.…”

Ukraine and Europe

“…However, it appears that this pledge only emboldened Russia: 'the Russian government perceived it as a sign of weakness, an open invitation for its own military solution' (Auer, 2015). Germany (backed by France) was instrumental in fostering ceasefire and peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, leading to the two Minsk agreements on resolving the tensions in Eastern Donbass.…”