Ernst-Wolfgang Böckenförde

Ernst-Wolfgang Böckenförde (1930-2019) was a prominent German legal scholar, philosopher, and judge, best known for his contributions to constitutional theory and the study of secularization. He served as a judge on the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany. Böckenförde's work often grappled with the relationship between religion, law, and the state, particularly in the context of modern secular societies. He is famous for the 'Böckenförde Dilemma,' which posits that the liberal, secular state relies on pre-political, often religious or ethical, foundations that it cannot itself guarantee. While Böckenförde himself is not directly mentioned in the provided articles, the current resurgence of interest in Carl Schmitt's political thought, as highlighted in the articles, indirectly relates to Böckenförde's work. Böckenförde engaged critically with Schmitt's ideas, and the renewed debate surrounding Schmitt's theories on the political and the concept of the enemy also implicitly raises questions about the foundations of liberal democracy, a central theme in Böckenförde's scholarship. The ongoing discussions about democracy and political polarization thus make Böckenförde's reflections on the preconditions of a liberal state relevant.