Reactionary Postmodernism? Neoliberalism, Multiculturalism, the Internet, and the Ideology of the New Far Right in Germany
Conference Year
January 2019
Abstract
This thesis aims to map the material, discursive, and ideological foundations of the new far right in Germany within the context of neoliberalism and multiculturalism, the economic and social regimes of modern globalization, as well as exploring the right wing’s relationship with postmodernism and the internet. It is an attempt to create a picture of the contemporary far right that utilizes a variety of different conceptual approaches, illustrating that it cannot be explained as a spontaneous revival of fascism, racism, etc. but rather must be seen as a product of the specific profound historical and social transformations of our time. As the title suggests, it will use Jeffrey Herf’s concept of reactionary modernism, describing the two-sided nature of Nazism: decrying the social projects of modernity like democracy while simultaneously obsessing itself with and efficiently using modern technology for its ends. This project evaluates that two-sidedness of contemporary far right movements: though xenophobic nationalism, welfare chauvinism, and appeals to tradition are certainly nothing new, there seems to be a distinctly postmodern (or “late modern”) quality to groups like the Identitarian Movement. Not only do they embrace and skillfully use new technologies such as the internet, but they also appeal to the identity politics of the mainstream while co-opting the leftist theories of cultural hegemony and metapolitics of Gramsci and Badiou. Given this, is it even right to view the contemporary right as a “regression,” or is it simply a different expression of 21st century culture?
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Alan Steinweis
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
European Studies
Primary Research Category
Arts & Humanities
Secondary Research Category
Social Sciences
Reactionary Postmodernism? Neoliberalism, Multiculturalism, the Internet, and the Ideology of the New Far Right in Germany
This thesis aims to map the material, discursive, and ideological foundations of the new far right in Germany within the context of neoliberalism and multiculturalism, the economic and social regimes of modern globalization, as well as exploring the right wing’s relationship with postmodernism and the internet. It is an attempt to create a picture of the contemporary far right that utilizes a variety of different conceptual approaches, illustrating that it cannot be explained as a spontaneous revival of fascism, racism, etc. but rather must be seen as a product of the specific profound historical and social transformations of our time. As the title suggests, it will use Jeffrey Herf’s concept of reactionary modernism, describing the two-sided nature of Nazism: decrying the social projects of modernity like democracy while simultaneously obsessing itself with and efficiently using modern technology for its ends. This project evaluates that two-sidedness of contemporary far right movements: though xenophobic nationalism, welfare chauvinism, and appeals to tradition are certainly nothing new, there seems to be a distinctly postmodern (or “late modern”) quality to groups like the Identitarian Movement. Not only do they embrace and skillfully use new technologies such as the internet, but they also appeal to the identity politics of the mainstream while co-opting the leftist theories of cultural hegemony and metapolitics of Gramsci and Badiou. Given this, is it even right to view the contemporary right as a “regression,” or is it simply a different expression of 21st century culture?