Depictions of Eco-fascism in Media: a Comparative Analysis of Right and Leftist Representations of Eco-fascism

Abstract Book of the 9th International Conference on Future of Social Sciences

Year: 2025

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Depictions of Eco-fascism in Media: a Comparative Analysis of Right and Leftist Representations of Eco-fascism

Caroline Smith, Ameera Brown

ABSTRACT:

The pervasiveness of eco-fascism in contemporary Western media, and its rhetoric against overpopulation and underpopulation of the human race through hypernationalistic and autocratic means has been represented through TV series and film. As shown through blockbuster hits like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame and popular TV series like the Handmaid’s Tale, eco-fascism offers a brutally autocratic and violent solution to the climate crisis. The Avengers demonstrate how mass loss of human life through “fair” and “equitable” means cloaked in the language of justice is justified for the health of the planet, and the Handmaid’s Tale depictions of eco-fascism through religious fundamentalism demonstrate that both the left and right can show the similarities of drastically different interpretations of this political ideology. Eco-fascist rhetoric and ideology has permeated into western politics and culture, particularly through media, to such an extent that in many ways it is used as a tool to mobilise resistance and justify fascist ideals. It is an ideology deeply rooted in white supremacy and colonialism that often justifies the mass destruction of human rights, such as the right to life, healthcare, political freedom and self-determination. The purpose of this paper is to better understand this growing movement as the state of the climate crisis continues to worsen, to equip the reader with the tools to identify eco-fascism and to understand how the left and right can interpret eco-fascism.

Keywords: Authoritarianism; Environmentalism; Fascism; Film; Media