The extremist right-wing factions are advocating for a return to an antiquated social and political structure, aiming to reintroduce a covert form of authoritarianism under the guise of reshaping modern conservative politics.
Throughout history, humans have sought to navigate their limited existence amidst the vastness of potential futures, engaging in speculative thought to envision what could be. This process of reflection not only uncovers possible futures but also shapes our perception of reality, as the anticipated future influences our understanding of the present and directs societal progress across various domains such as economy, politics, science, and human development.
In this quest to forecast the future, one might either focus on the current challenges with optimism for improvement or dwell pessimistically on the negatives, envisioning a dire future. This latter perspective can lead to the emergence of radical ideologies that perceive existential threats and propose drastic measures.
Reevaluating Progress
Imagine a scenario where a new ideology questions the trajectory of progress that has championed liberal democracy and free-market capitalism, proposing instead a reversal that prioritizes hierarchy over equality, collective identity over individual rights, and tradition and state control over freedom and market regulation.
Capitalism faces criticism for fostering global inequality and social unrest, evident in protests across South America. An ideology that seeks to dismantle the democratic capitalist framework does not aim to reform but to replace it entirely by embracing illiberal or populist right-wing values, threatening the stability of contemporary conservative politics.
In the 1960s, the European Nouvelle Droite aimed to revive a “true right” vision that opposed free-market capitalism and democracy. They pursued a metapolitical strategy, focusing on cultural and ideological transformation to prepare for a radical political shift away from the post-war liberal democratic norms.
Metapolitics: A Tool for Ideological Transformation
Metapolitics involves deconstructing the dominant cultural and ideological mindset to foster a radical change. For the Nouvelle Droite, this meant challenging the foundations of liberal democracy and capitalism by promoting European ultra-nationalism through cultural and ideological means, with the ultimate goal of ethnopluralism—a form of segregation under the guise of preserving cultural identity, reflecting a neo-fascist agenda.
Bridging Extremes through Metapolitics
French philosopher Alain Badiou revitalized metapolitics, proposing resistance against the liberal democratic order. Despite his far-left origins, Badiou’s critique of established political structures and his advocacy for “politics without a party” echo far-right sentiments, blurring the lines between extreme ideological positions.
Badiou champions a radical form of politics that seeks liberation from state control and political conventions, advocating for a chaotic liberation that challenges political philosophy and its limitations.
The Radical Right and Revolutionary Ideas
The radical right finds utility in Badiou’s ideas for their metapolitical strategy against the liberal democratic order. However, their alignment with Badiou’s vision is likely opportunistic, as their ultimate goal contrasts with the infinite political possibilities Badiou imagines.
In the end, the far right’s embrace of metapolitics signifies not an ambition for innovation but a desire to regress to an authoritarian past, contradicting the notion that liberal democracy represents the culmination of political evolution. This persistence in metapolitical strategies highlights the enduring struggle against the liberal ideological dominance, underscoring the far right’s intent to reclaim political and cultural terrain through a covert resurgence of authoritarian principles.