Far-right environmentalism and the supernatural imaginary: runic writing, ethnic ruralism, and occult practices

Abstract

The widespread degradation of interconnected ecosystems has reached critical levels, fundamentally altering the fabric of contemporary society. The convergence of climate change impacts, demographic pressures, forced displacement, geopolitical instability, and resource scarcity has engendered unprecedented levels of human insecurity and catalysed a humanitarian crisis of global proportions. It is consequently becoming increasingly important to consider the ways in which severe ecological stresses interact with issues of ‘race’ and ‘space’ and are being used to develop and promote dangerous far-right ideologies. This chapter will illustrate how the doctrine of Lebensraum—the perceived German right to living space—overlaps with far-right environmentalism, and the ways in which groups and movements have employed occultism, paganism, and mythology to generate support for ‘Blood and Soil’ ideology, particularly via contemporary aesthetics and subcultures, such as eco-fascism, ‘Cottagecore’, and ‘Tradwives’. It will also focus on the far right’s use of runes, both overt representations and implicit references, that are designed to connect sensory experiences with emotional feelings, while advocating a pre-industrial way of living. The chapter highlights the ongoing significance of supernatural symbolism in far-right propaganda, tracing its roots from the Völkisch Movement of the late nineteenth century, through the Weimar Republic and Third Reich, to contemporary extremist groups and movements, emphasising how these symbols are weaponised to promote ideas of racial superiority and ethno-nationalism.

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ORCID for Ashton Kingdon: orcid.org/0000-0002-0103-7361

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