What is Eco-Fascism?
I got a lot of support and equal amounts of skepticism for this video: The Eco to Alt-Right Pipeline. So, how does one align themselves with the environmental movement but also low-key (or maybe high-key) follow fascist ideals? Let’s talk about eco-fascism today.
Defining Eco-Fascism
We get a few helpful definitions from Wikipedia:
“Philosopher André Gorz characterized eco-fascism as hypothetical forms of totalitarianism based on an ecological orientation of politics.”
Another, more recent definition arose in 2005, from environmental “historian Michael E. Zimmerman defined "ecofascism" as "a totalitarian government that requires individuals to sacrifice their interests to the well-being of the 'land', understood as the splendid web of life, or the organic whole of nature, including peoples and their states.” Zimmerman argued that while no ecofascist government has existed so far, "important aspects of it can be found in German National Socialism, one of whose central slogans was "Blood and Soil".[2][15] Other political agendas, instead of environmental protection and prevention of climate change, are nationalist approaches to climate, such as national economic environmentalism, securitization of climate change, and ecobordering.”
What are the beliefs?
While there really isn’t a prominent threat from entire governmental entities, we should be wary of what politicians may be saying that aligns with this topic. And we should also be wary of what we may also think on these topics…
Eco-fascists blame the demise of the environment and society on overpopulation, immigration, and over-industrialization. Sound familiar? I sure have heard the overpopulation argument a LOT in eco spaces. Yikes. Even if it’s not intended to be eco-fascist, now you know that it is.
More from Wikipedia, “Environmentalist author Naomi Klein has suggested that ecofascists' primary objectives are to close borders to immigrants and, on the more extreme end, to embrace the idea of climate change as a divinely ordained signal to begin a mass purge of sections of the human race.”
Another prominent talking point that I’ve surely heard a lot from politicians and everyday folks alike is that “well, other countries pollute more, so the US shouldn’t have to take climate action if they’re not taking climate action.”
You may also be familiar with another one in eco spaces: that humans are just invasive species, and the planet would be better off without us. While you may say or think this in a non-harmful way, this can spiral into eco-fascist ideals. If you’ve ever said this before, please be cautious using it moving forward. I understand the sentiment. Modern humans care so little about the planet. We are so disconnected from the natural world. But that does not remove us from the web of life. We are still connected to the planet whether we see it or not. We can live sustainably right here, right now, without justifying the offing of other humans.
What it boils down to, according to the University of Connecticut, is that “It is basically environmentalism that suggests that certain people are naturally and exclusively entitled to control and enjoy environmental resources.” The main idea is about population and an eco-fascists thoughts on it are dictated by racism: “A common ecofascist argument, then, links national environment to population, contending that certain (often specifically nonwhite) populations, within the US or beyond it, are the primary cause of climate change and other environmental issues.”
The slippery slope down the alt-right pipeline
Quite honestly, I don’t see these arguments in eco spaces. Maybe I just surround myself with sound people. But I do see these arguments a TON in MAGA spaces. MAGA are known to be anti-immigrant, and I have literally heard nearly word-for-word that it’s just “god’s plan” that climate change is happening.
I think this makes it a crystal clear path that someone may fall down by accident. If someone is an environmentalist, it can be easy for them to believe or simply hear one of these arguments and slowly but surely get fully sucked into full-blown eco-fascism and the far-right.
Though I’m curious to hear from folks from other countries. In the US, it’s very uncommon for folks on the very far right (again, the FAR right, I’m not saying the ENTIRE right) to believe in climate change. I would never hear Fox News, for example, or Donald Trump himself use tactics described by the European Commission on the topic of eco-fascism, such as “using language and equating actors in population and migration discourses to components of the climate crisis.” Instead, the Far Right is simply in full-blown climate change-denial or dismissal.
I really could see this as a prominent point in Europe where climate change is seen as it truly is: a fact. As opposed to the US, where many deem it just an opinion. Is this why Europe is falling down the fascism route, too? Are they using eco-fascism as an excuse?
But, there are Eco-Fascist origins in the US
Let’s talk about Madison Grant.
According to Wikipedia, “Sometimes dubbed the ‘founding father’ of ecofascism, Madison Grant was a pioneer of conservationism in America in the late 19th and early 20th century. Grant is credited as a founder of modern wildlife management.”
“In addition to his conservationist work, Grant was a trenchant racist,[44][45] and eugenicist.[46][47] In 1906, Grant supported the placement of Ota Benga, a member of the Mbuti people who was kidnapped, removed from his home in the Congo, and put on display in the Bronx Zoo as an exhibit in the Monkey House.[41][42] In 1916, Grant wrote The Passing of the Great Race, a work of pseudoscientific literature which claimed to give an account of the anthropological history of Europe.[48] The book divides Europeans into three races: Alpines, Mediterraneans, and Nordics, and it also claims that the first two races are inferior to the superior Nordic race, which is the only race that is fit to rule the earth. Adolf Hitler would later describe Grant's book as "his bible," and Grant's "Nordic theory" became the bedrock of Nazi racial theories.”
These “arguments” are proven false
Eco-fascism is based on white supremacy and racism. These arguments are not factually based. Every self-proclaimed eco-fascist had their ideals rooted in hate, not actually in the environment. They often just use the environmentalism angle to justify their hate and racism.
And it’s not just a handful of people who think these things. Remember, some of these arguments are mainstream. I’ve heard them in the circles I frequent online, such as that humans are invasive species and that the US shouldn’t take climate action unless other countries do so, too.
UConn states it well again: “What makes these arguments most concerning, in other words, is that they increasingly circulate on the left and among political moderates at the center as well as on the right. This is how fascism has worked historically. Fascist movements are rarely ideologically rigorous. Instead, they draw on commonplace, existing ideas about national, ethnic, racial, and environmental belonging that reinforce lines between in-groups and out-groups. That is one of the reasons why otherwise well-intentioned environmentalists risk reiterating ecofascist arguments.”
Let’s bust some common myths that eco-fascists like to spread as truths (these are all thanks to UConn):
Myth #1: Overpopulation is the root cause of climate change and other environmental problems
Reality: The population growth rate is in decline, from 2.2% per year 50 years ago to 1.0% per year. The wealthiest 10% of the world’s population emits 50% of the greenhouse gases whereas the poorest 50% emit less than 7%. The root problem is not necessarily population. It is specific patterns of resource extraction, consumption, and distribution.
Myth #2: Humans are inherently selfish and will deplete resources unless they are consolidated
Reality: Humans have sustainably managed resources for millennia. Resource depletion is a function of particular cultural norms, economic systems, and patterns of overconsumption that have chiefly benefitted those who have consolidated control of those resources to begin with.
Myth #3: Humans are like a disease on the planet. Disasters and pandemics are nature’s revenge
Reality: A small proportion of the human population is responsible for a major share of greenhouse gas emissions, and stands to suffer least from their global consequences. “Another common ecofascist talking point is that any human death is good because it means fewer people consuming things and contributing to environmental degradation,” Menrisky says. But blaming “all humans” ignores these massive disparities.
What can we do?
Well, now that you’re familiar with the main talking points, shut them down! Especially when you see someone on the left saying things like “humans are invasive species” and things like that. Let people know that that line of thinking has eco-fascist origins and should be taken seriously. When these phrases are said by folks who don’t believe in eco-fascist ideals, that’s how these phrases become mainstream and how the ideas may come to fruition if they become normalized enough. As climate change gets worse and fascism continues to rise globally, these phrases and myths above are likely to become more mainstream. Let’s stop their casual use now.
Simply learning about what eco-fascism is and how to spot it is also important! Share this post or accompanying video with others.
Embrace TRUE climate solutions rooted in fact and science and not white supremacy. Things like switching to green energy (yes, I’m aware of the nuance), holding major polluters accountable, consuming less, making our cities more walkable and bikeable, enacting national-level climate policy, and much more. This also includes thinking about your environmentalism intersectionally.
And ultimately, we need to stop the main pillar of fascism, too. Eco-fascism falls under the umbrella of fascism as a whole. Here are my top books on the subject to get educated and inspire you on how to fight to end it:
The Anatomy of Fascism
On Tyranny
How Democracies Die
How Fascism Works
Reign of Terror
Check out my full list of book recs and shop here!
Did I miss anything? Please let us know below, as well as drop your book recs! Want to read with me? Join the Eco Book Club for just $1 a month :)
As always, thanks for reading along, especially on this serious and un-sexy topic. It’s extremely important, though!
I’ll see you in the next post, but until then, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run
Emma
