Dark Enlightenment

The Dark Enlightenment, also called the Neo-Reactionary movement (abbreviated to NRx), is an anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian, and reactionary philosophical and political movement. It can be understood as a reaction against values and ideologies associated with Enlightenment, advocating for a return to traditional societal constructs and forms of government, such as absolute monarchism and cameralism. The movement promotes the establishment of authoritarian capitalist city-states that compete for citizens. Neoreactionaries refer to contemporary liberal society and its institutions as "the Cathedral", associating them with the Puritan church, and their goals of egalitarianism and democracy as "the Synopsis". They say that the Cathedral influences public discourse to promote progressivism and political correctness, which they view as a threat to Western civilization. Additionally, the movement advocates for scientific racism, a view which they say is suppressed by the Cathedral. Curtis Yarvin began constructing the basis of the ideology in the late 2000s, drawing upon libertarianism and Austrian economics along with thinkers such as Hans-Hermann Hoppe and Thomas Carlyle. Philosopher Nick Land elaborated upon Yarvin's ideas and coined the term "Dark Enlightenment", applying it to his accelerationism as a means to achieve a technological singularity. The movement has also received contributions from prominent figures, such as venture capitalist Peter Thiel. Despite criticism, the movement has gained traction with parts of Silicon Valley, as well as with several political figures associated with United States President Donald Trump, including political strategist Steve Bannon, Vice President JD Vance, and Michael Anton. The Dark Enlightenment has been described as part of the alt-right, as its theoretical branch, and as neo-fascist. It has been described as the most significant political theory within the alt-right, as "key to understanding" the alt-right political ideology, and as providing a philosophical basis for considerable amounts of alt-right political activity. University of Chichester professor Benjamin Noys...