The Rise of the Far Right: A Civilizational Crisis?

Abstract

The article questions whether the current structural crisis of capitalism, liberal democracy, the rule of law, and political representation is, fundamentally, a deeper crisis involving the philosophical and civilizational beliefs that have guided Western culture. It analyzes the new far right as an expression of reactionary political thought, distinguishing it from conservatism and progressivism in the history of political ideas. Next, it examines politics as carnival and far-right populism in the contemporary world. The role of social media and the logic of digital bubbles in the disappearance of a democratic and plural political culture and practice is emphasized. Finally, the article analyzes the relationship between the current democratic deadlocks, the impact of digital technology, and social resentment as the cultural breeding ground for the emergence of the far right.