Dark Enlightenment

The Dark Enlightenment, also called the neo-reactionary movement or neoreactionarism (abbreviated to NRx), is an anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian,^[1] and reactionary philosophical and political movement.^[2] A reaction against Enlightenment values,^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] it favors a return to traditional societal constructs and forms of government such as absolute monarchism and cameralism.^[5] Influenced by libertarianism, the movement advocates for authoritarian capitalist city-states which compete for citizens. Neoreactionaries refer to contemporary liberal society and institutions which they oppose as "the Cathedral", associating them with the Puritan church, and their goals of egalitarianism and democracy as "the Synopsis". They claim that the Cathedral influences public discourse to promote progressivism and political correctness,^[8]^[9] which they view as a threat to Western civilization.^[4] El País compared the concept to QAnon and its claims of a deep state.^[6] The movement espouses scientific racism, a pseudoscientific view which they claim is suppressed by the Cathedral.

The Dark Enlightenment has been described as part of the alt-right, as its theoretical branch,^[10]^[11] and as neo-fascist.^[10]^[12]^[13]^[14] It has been described as the most significant political theory within the alt-right,^[2] as "key to understanding" the alt-right political ideology,^[2] and as providing a philosophical basis for considerable amounts of alt-right political activity.^[15] University of Chichester professor Benjamin Noys described it as "an acceleration of capitalism to a fascist point". Land disputes the similarity between his ideas and fascism, claiming that "Fascism is a mass anti-capitalist movement", whereas he prefers that "capitalist corporate power should become the organizing force in society".^[10] Historians Angela Dimitrakaki and Harry Weeks tie the Dark Enlightenment to neofascism via Land's "capitalist eschatology" which they describe as supported by the supremacist theories of fascism.^[16] Neoreactionary ideas have also been described as "feudalist"^[8] and "techno-feudalist".^[6]^[7]

In 2007, Curtis Yarvin began constructing the basis of the ideology, with Nick Land elaborating and coining the term "Dark Enlightenment". The movement has also had contributions from figures such as venture capitalist Peter Thiel. Despite criticism, the movement has gained traction with parts of Silicon Valley as well as several political figures associated with United States President Donald Trump, including political strategist Steve Bannon, Vice President JD Vance, and Michael Anton.

^ Kindinger, Evangelia; Schmitt, Mark (4 January 2019). "Conclusion: Digital culture and the afterlife of white supremacist movements". The Intersections of Whiteness. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-11277-2. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
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^ ^a ^b Gray, Rosie (10 February 2017). "Behind the Internet's Anti-Democracy Movement". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c Fanjul, Sergio C. (30 November 2024). "NRx: The (underground) movement that wants to destroy democracy". EL PAÍS English. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
^ ^a ^b Simon, Ed (24 March 2025). "What We Must Understand About the Dark Enlightenment Movement". TIME. Archived from the original on 31 March 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
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[1] Kindinger, Evangelia; Schmitt, Mark (4 January 2019). "Conclusion: Digital culture and the afterlife of white supremacist movements". The Intersections of Whiteness. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-11277-2. Retrieved 29 November 2022.

[Jones2019-2] Cite error: The named reference Jones2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[land-3] Cite error: The named reference land was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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[behind-5] Gray, Rosie (10 February 2017). "Behind the Internet's Anti-Democracy Movement". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.

[:6-6] Fanjul, Sergio C. (30 November 2024). "NRx: The (underground) movement that wants to destroy democracy". EL PAÍS English. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2025.

[:9-7] Simon, Ed (24 March 2025). "What We Must Understand About the Dark Enlightenment Movement". TIME. Archived from the original on 31 March 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.

[:1-8] Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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