Carl Schmitt and Georg Simmel in the perspective of the theory of international relations and international law

Carl Schmitt’s intellectual legacy keeps attracting Russian jurists and social scientists for at least three decades. It would be unwise to give a similar comment on Georg Simmel’s legacy. Though, Simmel’s agenda is also no terra incognita in this country. Both in their respective world outlook and ideologically Schmitt and Simmel are worlds apart. At first sight, it would be impossible to find a common key which would enable a comparative analysis of their works. Nevertheless, formulating the purpose of the study, the author of the article found such a common denominator in the comparison of Schmitt's political concept "friend-enemy" and Simmel's sociological concept "friend-foe". The key research method is comparative analysis, which compares the two above-mentioned concepts. It is concluded that both concepts are instrumental, primarily in the field of international relations. The author holds that practically all sphere of international relations lends itself to the interplay of the said conceptions. Moreover, they can be applied for a proper investigation of the same international situation. For example, one international actor regards another one as its “existential enemy”. But the other one is not bound to lend itself to this status. The other one may discard the role the imposed “existential enemy” and regard the first one in the Simmel’s term of “stranger”. This term has no pejorative connotations, not even the aftertaste of unfriendliness. The theoretical significance of the research lies in the use of the concepts of Karl Schmitt and Georg Simmel to supplement the theory of international relations and international law with new conclusions and generalizations.