Richard Seymour, a prominent Marxist intellectual, initially ignored the climate crisis, focusing instead on topics like the Iraq war and neoliberalism. However, a turning point came in 2015 when he experienced an emotional awakening regarding climate change during a warm day in a local park. He began to deeply engage with the environmental crisis and its implications for the future, drawing from his agricultural childhood in Northern Ireland.
Seymour has since become a leading voice on climate breakdown, exploring the intersections of environmental destruction, far-right politics, and human desire in his podcast and writings. His new book, Disaster Nationalism: The Downfall of Liberal Civilization, examines rising far-right movements globally, attributing their appeal to a shared social condition rooted in insecurity and a desire for a violent reset that restores traditional values.
He critiques conventional explanations for the far-right’s rise, arguing that these movements thrive on apocalyptic fantasies, blurring the line between ecological disaster and human conflict. He notes that ecological disaster allows people to externalize blame onto tangible enemies, diverting attention from abstract forces like climate change and capitalism.
Seymour emphasizes the importance of emotional connections and solidarity in combating these issues. He believes that genuine political organization should foster interdependence among individuals, similar to community support seen in union activities. He advocates for recognizing the interconnectedness of all life, suggesting that true socialism and ecological awareness require a foundation of love and mutual care.
Ultimately, Seymour argues for re-framing discussions around climate change to include species extinction and ecological destruction, stressing humanity’s dependency on the natural world. He suggests that embracing this interconnection is essential for meaningful political action and societal transformation.
