Political confrontation beyond morality: the theoretical legacy of Carl Schmitt

In the context of growing international tension and political polarization, Carl Schmitt's concept of the moral neutrality of the enemy gains particular relevance. Schmitt argues that the political is based on the dichotomy of «friend» and «enemy», where both categories belong to the public sphere and are free from moral judgments. The demonization of the enemy, on the contrary, transforms politics into a domain of irrational emotions, which can justify violence and undermine opportunities for dialogue. This article explores the theoretical foundations of the concept of the «political» and the «friend-enemy» dichotomy, the problem of enemy demonization, and its consequences for political confrontation. Special attention is given to the significance of this theory for analyzing contemporary international and domestic conflicts. The author concludes that maintaining the moral neutrality of the enemy preserves the rationality and public nature of politics, thereby minimizing conflict escalation.