An Alternative Political Theology: The Negative and Anticipatory Significance of the Constitutive Concepts of Constitutional Law

Abstract

This chapter explores the dimension of constitutional law composed of constitutive concepts, such as national sovereignty, the people and the concept of Constitution itself. That dimension can be considered as a political-theological dimension in the sense that constitutive concepts are analogous to theological concepts. Both have a negative and anticipatory significance, bearing in mind their understanding in the light of negative theology. In this light, political theology is not to be understood in the terms proposed by Carl Schmitt.