The affective politics of reactionary futurism in Silicon Valley

This interventionist essay examines the affective politics of an ideology I term ‘reactionary futurism’ in Silicon Valley. The focus is on the emergence of this reactionary ideology among figures such as Marc Andreessen, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Curtis Yarvin, and Nick Land. It argues that this affective ideology consists of three key components. First, it rejects the state, aiming to replace it with the corporation-as-state, where transactions, rather than democratic participation, govern. Second, it denounces democracy as an alienated ‘other’ – an unwanted remnant of progressivism and the reckless optimism of the Enlightenment. Reactionary futurism posits that humans should not only be rescued from acute harms but also liberated from the perceived failures of democracy and regulation. Finally, it asserts that reactionary futurism can only be realised by creating a depoliticised techno-capitalist utopia – one that transcends politics by colonising new frontiers through start-up-driven monarchist models. Ultimately, the essay demonstrates that the affective politics of Silicon Valley futurism extend beyond economic interests, fuelled by a deep resistance to democracy and a fear of losing control. Reactionary futurism is both strategic and affective, affirming autonomy and power while entrenching class stratification, where the market reigns supreme and the corporation sets the rules.