A Contingent Affinity: Max Weber, Carl Schmitt, and the Challenge of Modern Politics.

The article examines the controversy surrounding the theory of a continuity between the political thought of sociologist Max Weber and political theorist Carl Schmitt. Topics include the differences and similarities between Weber's and Schmitt's political thought, the blood tie theory of historian Wolfgang Mommsen, and the legend theory of scholar Dana Villa. Also discussed are Weber's concept of politics with regard to modernity, Schmitt's antiliberalism, and Weber's sociology of religion.