Conspiratorial imaginaries of the right: a commentary on capital, race and space by Richard Saull

Abstract

In my engagement with Richard Saull’s important work Capital, Race and Space, I focus on the nexus between belief in conspiracy theories and right-wing radicalization. I want to suggest that a conspiracy theory is a particular form of social imaginary. In this case, the social imaginaries that lend themselves to right-wing or fascistic political movements concern claims about global pathologies that appear hidden from the social reality of the nation-state. To his credit, Saull takes seriously the role that such ideas have. I extend the analysis by turning to George Bataille’s understanding of fascism. For Bataille, fascism is about creating a feeling of necessity to confront the abject forces (global in scope) that seek to undermine a particular way of life.