Novara FM: The Age of Disaster Nationalism w/ Richard Seymour
Oct 24, 2024
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Richard Seymour, writer and founding editor of Salvage magazine, discusses the rise of disaster nationalism, where catastrophes are exploited for political gain. He highlights how far-right movements scapegoat marginalized groups, linking these tactics to historical and contemporary events like the Gujarat riots and UK protests. Seymour critiques neoliberalism’s impact on social connection and calls for the left to harness collective resentment into meaningful action. His insights draw alarming parallels between today’s climate of fear and the past, urging a united response to systemic oppression.
Disaster nationalism showcases how far-right movements exploit real catastrophes by blaming fabricated enemies, leading to divisive narratives.
The podcast emphasizes the psychological effects of economic despair that can incite class resentment and scapegoating toward marginalized communities.
A call to action is made for the left to unify and transform passive spectatorship into proactive engagement with both local and global crises.
Deep dives
Disaster Nationalism and the Right's Reinterpretation of Catastrophes
The phenomenon of disaster nationalism illustrates how the political right often reinterprets real tragedies into simplified narratives featuring clear enemies. In recent years, actual disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic have been transformed into conspiracy theories, framing public health measures as totalitarian plots. Rather than confronting the complexities of issues such as climate change or terrorism, certain factions blame groups like Antifa or Muslims for these societal challenges. This oversimplification provides a psychological escape for followers, allowing them to view their struggles as part of a larger battle against a conspicuous and thus easier-to-identify enemy.
The Allure of Disasters in Fostering Aggression
In exploring the allure of disasters, the discussion shifts to how the rhetoric around events, particularly hurricanes, can incite feelings of victimization among the right. For example, during a hurricane in Florida, some individuals propagated theories suggesting malicious intent behind the event, blaming their suffering on Democrats or other imagined foes rather than acknowledging the real impacts of climate change. This narrative allows individuals to feel emboldened, offering an outlet for aggression as they can frame their personal hardships as a broader existential threat. This engagement with a hostile environment serves to rally people rather than unite them under a common cause, perpetuating divisive politics.
Psychological Dynamics of Class and Resentment
The discussion highlights the psychological impact of social stratification in a climate of ongoing economic despair. Individuals from various class backgrounds experience chronic disasters—such as poverty and addiction—that often fuel resentment toward perceived external threats, like immigrants. This class resentment can lead to scapegoating, directing frustration toward marginalized groups rather than addressing systemic issues faced by the working class. The essential message is that without effective leftist organization, those feeling disenfranchised may easily gravitate towards reactionary ideologies that align with their emotional responses instead of a coherent critique of their conditions.
The Role of Spectatorship in Global Events
The concept of spectatorship illustrates how individuals observe global disasters, like the genocide in Gaza, with a sense of distant engagement rather than active participation. This 'oh dearism' fosters a disconnect, allowing people to consume media representations of suffering without feeling compelled to act. The podcast suggests that while the UK may be insulated from some immediate repercussions of climate change, the cascading effects, such as increased food prices or refugee crises, will eventually demand a response. Thus, the challenge lies in transforming passive observation into proactive engagement with local and global crises.
Disaster Nationalism and Its Implications for Future Politics
Looking ahead, disaster nationalism raises crucial questions about how the left responds to the crises of our time. Through an examination of historical and contemporary examples of far-right violence, it becomes evident that such movements derive strength not from superior organization but from effectively leveraging societal fears and grievances. The urgency for the left is to unite fragmented efforts into a cohesive political force, capable of challenging the growing influence of the far-right. By focusing on solidarity, mutual aid, and proactive engagement with emerging crises, a reimagined left can potentially pose a significant threat to the established, reactionary power structures.
Around the world, far-right movements are mobilising support by placing the blame for real catastrophes – Covid-19, the war in Ukraine, their own riots and insurrections – on entirely made-up enemies, among them Muslims, immigrants and feminists. This is what Richard Seymour, a writer, theorist and founding editor of Salvage magazine, calls disaster nationalism. He joins Richard Hames […]
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