Date of Award

Summer 8-30-2024

Document Type

Thesis (Undergraduate)

First Advisor

D.G. Webster

Abstract

American far-right ecologism incorporates the American far-right’s antidemocratic and exclusionary tendencies, fears of existential threats and conspiracies, apocalyptic fantasies, and commitment to racial hierarchies. There are many shades of far-right ecologisms – including authoritarian deep ecology, eco-fascism, and exclusionary eco-nationalism – but all threaten the United States’ democratic ideals, multiculturalism, and pluralistic society. This thesis examines the rise of far-right ecologism in the U.S. by analyzing posts from 4chan’s /pol/ board (2015–2020) with a mixed-methods that blends a literature review, quantitative analysis, and descriptive case study. From 2015 to 2019, far-right ecology posts increased by 410%, and violent rhetoric in these posts rose by 390%, increasing at an increasing rate before marginally decreasing in 2020. This case study suggests that white supremacy, violent rhetoric, hatred towards Black people, and neo-Malthusian sentiment are dominant themes of online far-right ecology. Far-right ecology, violent rhetoric, and white supremacy grew at increasing rates, suggesting reinforcing feedback. The rapid growth of themes like white supremacy aligns with the idea that anonymous online platforms, such as 4chan's /pol/, enhance group identity and polarization, diminishing offline normative values like multiculturalism and tolerance. As /pol/ users spend more time interacting with far-right ecology content and observing positive feedback directed at far-right ecologists, social learning theory suggests that they are likely to adopt and spread extremist ideologies through vicarious reinforcement and imitation. This increased exposure leads to further radicalization and the growing prominence of these themes.

Original Citation

Dunleavy, H. (2024). Far-right ecological extremism: The synthesis of violence, hate, and the environment on /Pol/. Dartmouth Environmental Studies Senior Theses.

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