Oltre la Corte Suprema: Felix Frankfurter e la costruzione delle élite transatlantiche

The essay explores the multifaceted legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter (1882–1965), not only for his controversial judicial philosophy of judicial restraint but also for his influential role as a transatlantic power broker. While recent historiography debates his shift from progressive activism to conservative jurisprudence, this contribution highlights Frankfurter’s informal networks and behind-the-scenes diplomacy, particularly his collaboration with Jean Monnet during WWII. Through these connections, Frankfurter played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy and laying the groundwork for the postwar Atlantic alliance. The essay argues that Frankfurter’s most enduring legacy may lie not in his court opinions, but in his strategic cultivation of elite networks that bridged law, politics, and international relations.