Political Anthropology Seen Through Populism and Apocalyptic Imaginaries
Fridlund, Patrik LU
(2026)
In Eco-Ethica
13.
p.101-121
- Abstract
- One characteristic trait of populism is its dramatic rhetoric on themes such as the survival of the European people. This is particularly present in a cluster of conspiracy theories, in this article discussed under the collective term le grand remplacement, forming a cornerstone of much right-wing populist rhetoric. In this article, it is suggested that the notion of “apocalyptic imaginaries” is a helpful tool in the process of observing, classifying, and eventually understanding this kind of populism and its political anthropology. If populism is read through the lens of apocalyptic imaginaries, it brings “political rationality” into perspective, as “the rational” is not always held to be important in political rhetoric. Moreover, “the... (More)
- One characteristic trait of populism is its dramatic rhetoric on themes such as the survival of the European people. This is particularly present in a cluster of conspiracy theories, in this article discussed under the collective term le grand remplacement, forming a cornerstone of much right-wing populist rhetoric. In this article, it is suggested that the notion of “apocalyptic imaginaries” is a helpful tool in the process of observing, classifying, and eventually understanding this kind of populism and its political anthropology. If populism is read through the lens of apocalyptic imaginaries, it brings “political rationality” into perspective, as “the rational” is not always held to be important in political rhetoric. Moreover, “the rational” is not self-evident, and political discourses must not be discarded just because they appear to be paradoxical or ambivalent. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- One characteristic trait of populism is its dramatic rhetoric on
themes such as the survival of the European people. This is particularly
present in a cluster of conspiracy theories, in this article discussed un-
der the collective term le grand remplacement, forming a cornerstone
of much right-wing populist rhetoric. In this article, it is suggested that
the notion of “apocalyptic imaginaries” is a helpful tool in the process
of observing, classifying, and eventually understanding this kind of
populism and its political anthropology. If populism is read through
the lens of apocalyptic imaginaries, it brings “political rationality”
into perspective, as “the rational” is not always held to be... (More) - One characteristic trait of populism is its dramatic rhetoric on
themes such as the survival of the European people. This is particularly
present in a cluster of conspiracy theories, in this article discussed un-
der the collective term le grand remplacement, forming a cornerstone
of much right-wing populist rhetoric. In this article, it is suggested that
the notion of “apocalyptic imaginaries” is a helpful tool in the process
of observing, classifying, and eventually understanding this kind of
populism and its political anthropology. If populism is read through
the lens of apocalyptic imaginaries, it brings “political rationality”
into perspective, as “the rational” is not always held to be important
in political rhetoric. Moreover, “the rational” is not self-evident, and
political discourses must not be discarded just because they appear to
be paradoxical or ambivalent. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/6e7f9c9d-6810-4575-9f5f-c1fdf2bdf50a
- author
- Fridlund, Patrik
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-08-26
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- keywords
- right-wing populism, apocalyptic imaginaries, le grand rem- placement, Eurabia, revealed knowledge
- in
- Eco-Ethica
- volume
- 13
- pages
- 21 pages
- ISSN
- 2186-4802
- DOI
- 10.5840/ecoethica202682485
- project
- At the End of the World: A Transdisciplinary Approach to the Apocalyptic Imaginary in the Past and Present
- Beyond Truth and Lies: Conspiracy Theories, Post-Truth, and the Conditions of Public Debate
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6e7f9c9d-6810-4575-9f5f-c1fdf2bdf50a
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-27 15:22:55
- date last changed
- 2026-08-28 16:06:23
@article{6e7f9c9d-6810-4575-9f5f-c1fdf2bdf50a,
abstract = {{One characteristic trait of populism is its dramatic rhetoric on themes such as the survival of the European people. This is particularly present in a cluster of conspiracy theories, in this article discussed under the collective term le grand remplacement, forming a cornerstone of much right-wing populist rhetoric. In this article, it is suggested that the notion of “apocalyptic imaginaries” is a helpful tool in the process of observing, classifying, and eventually understanding this kind of populism and its political anthropology. If populism is read through the lens of apocalyptic imaginaries, it brings “political rationality” into perspective, as “the rational” is not always held to be important in political rhetoric. Moreover, “the rational” is not self-evident, and political discourses must not be discarded just because they appear to be paradoxical or ambivalent.}},
author = {{Fridlund, Patrik}},
issn = {{2186-4802}},
keywords = {{right-wing populism; apocalyptic imaginaries; le grand rem- placement; Eurabia; revealed knowledge}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{08}},
pages = {{101--121}},
series = {{Eco-Ethica}},
title = {{Political Anthropology Seen Through Populism and Apocalyptic Imaginaries}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5840/ecoethica202682485}},
doi = {{10.5840/ecoethica202682485}},
volume = {{13}},
year = {{2026}},
}