Neo-reactionary futurism

Techno-utopianism and the far right’s past-future nexus

Abstract

The far right has achieved electoral success as a reactionary movement that rejects the path society has taken and promises to restore an idealized past. Recently, however, far-right leaders have aligned with futuristic views that advocate accelerating technological development towards a techno-utopian society. This article seeks to understand how the past and future are connected within far-right ideology. It argues that, while the radicalization and overlap of techno-utopian ideologies see liberal values as obstacles, the far right sees techno-utopianism as a means to achieve an illiberal technological future that can govern a high-tech globalized economy. This convergence is termed “neo-reactionary futurism” and advocates authoritarianism and producerism as means to rebuild society. The study sheds light on an emerging branch of the far right and the significant challenges posed by the growing influence of the tech industry and its ideologies.

Keywords: Big Tech; Silicon Valley; Populism; Elitism; Anti-establishment.