Political Theory as Historical Counterpoint: The Case of Schmitt and Sovereignty

This essay argues for a broad, reconceptualization of the “history of political thought” as it is currently configured. It suggests that reintegrating the insights of influential, non-canonical thinkers into contemporary theory can open up our political horizons to new possibilities and challenge received wisdom regarding key concepts like “sovereignty.” It makes a methodological case for drawing upon Edward Said’s “contrapuntal” approach to history and offers a rereading of Carl Schmitt’s distorted characterization of Harold Laski and G.D.H. Cole as an example of what such an approach might look like.