Engaging Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Carl Schmitt in the Contemporary Chinese Context

Since the 2000s there has been a group of scholars in China embracing the political views of Carl Schmitt. They are aware of the dangerous side of his thought but provided reasonable analysis in relation to the Chinese social situation. Outlining their contributions, this article will depict the phenomenon with a focus on Schmitt's controversial "political theology". Further we shall compare Schmitt's thought with that of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Although their political alignments were opposed to each other, the theoretical foundations of their thinking reveal striking similarities. The fmal section will thus examine the elements that allow for the differences between their thought and actions, and draw theological arguments to resist totalitarian politics.