CARL SCHMITT, READER OF TOCQUEVILLE

Tocqueville can easily be seen as the symbol of the French liberal thought whereas Schmitt is considered as the leading opponent of the liberal doctrine. Trying to reconcile their theories might thus seem counter-intuitive. However, delving into Schmitt's work reveals that the German thinker admired his French counterpart. This article offers a first glance into what appears as a somehow connected interpretation of the democratic phenomenon in relation to their fear of possible depoliticisations. The authors will argue that, while they elaborate on distinct and almost contradictory questions, the historian and the jurist show a deep convergence of problematique. If their reservations concerning the enlargement of national borders, individualism and popular sovereignty reinforce this intuition, these similarities will be, in conclusion, traced back to a common use of a theological-political framework.