This Is Hell! The Downfall Of Liberal Civilization / Richard Seymour
Nov 17, 2025
Richard Seymour, an influential author and editor at Salvage Magazine, dives into the disturbing rise of disaster nationalism. He explains how climate change fuels far-right politics, transforming resentment into a potent political force. The conversation explores car culture's role in shaping identity and resistance to climate action. Seymour also sheds light on the dynamics of scapegoating and the normalization of fascist ideologies. He argues for systemic change, emphasizing that solidarity can counter the rising tide of authoritarianism.
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Climate Threat Fuels Right-Wing Resentment
- Climate change amplifies far-right radicalization by threatening 'sovereign individual' freedoms tied to petromodernity.
- Far-right movements exploit denialism and agitate against measures seen as limiting personal mobility or wealth.
Car Culture Shapes Political Resistance
- Car culture (petromodernity) binds people into practices that make decarbonization feel like a personal loss.
- Suburban sprawl and dependence on cars create political resistance to climate policy.
Resentment From Relative Decline Drives Support
- Disaster nationalism attracts those experiencing long-term relative class decline, not the poorest.
- Neoliberal culture intensified precarity and added punitive sadism that fuels resentful politics.
