The ecofascist legacy of the Nazis: Historical roots of far right ecologies

Abstract

Aside from its unique historical path in regard to racism/nationalism and the protection of nature, Germany has also an original character in how it associates these concepts. Observing a concern with environmental protection/sensitiveness and the most terrifying political/racist regime ever witnessed in the same geography, and the establishment of a theoretical interface between the two, is a matter of considerable concern. While it can be concluded that environmentalism and fascism were in a complex alignment, the conclusion drawn after questioning and analyzing the nature of the alignment is rather different. This paper focuses on the environmental history of green ideas in far-right politics through a discussion of the historical ‘legacy’ and development of the fascist ideology and practice, namely the Nazi ideology and political period. Taking into consideration that Germany historically followed a unique path toward the concepts of racism/nationalism, and nature protection/environmental ‘sensitivity’ that reverberated within the Nazi Ecology, both theoretically and in practice, their scrutiny becomes vital if we are to understand the nature of the far-right thinking that leads today’s political parties, ideologies, social movements and political ecologies. This paper intends to focus on the environmental history of green ideas in far-right politics by discussing the historical ‘legacy’ and process of fascist ideology and practice, namely the Nazi ideology and reign, Taking into consideration that Germany historically offers an original path of associating concepts of racism/nationalism, and nature protection/environmental ‘sensitivity’ which was reverberated by the Nazi Ecology through both theoretical and practical senses; the quest of scrutinizing them becomes more vital than ever so that today’s far-right thinking that leads political parties, ideologies, social movements and political ecologies can be better understood and approached.