Cyclical Evolution of the Global Right

Area of Science:

• Social Movements
• Political Science
• Historical Sociology

Background:

• Current right-wing movements echo historical patterns from the early twentieth century.
• Comparing past fascism with contemporary neofascism and right-wing populism is crucial for understanding.
• The reemergence of populist nationalism and fascist movements necessitates analysis of their drivers and potential consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the Global Right from 1800 to the present using a comparative evolutionary world-systems perspective.
• To understand fascism as a response to crises within the capitalist project.
• To identify the cyclical causes of right-wing populism and fascism, including globalization, power transitions, and economic cycles.

Main Methods:

• Comparative historical analysis of national and transnational right-wing movements.
• Application of the comparative evolutionary world-systems perspective.
• Examination of historical cycles of globalization, deglobalization, and hegemonic power shifts.

Main Results:

• Fascism emerges as a capitalist response during systemic crises.
• World historical waves of right-wing populism and fascism correlate with globalization cycles, power dynamics, and economic trends (Kondratieff waves).
• Past capitalist crises have historically triggered right-wing backlashes.

Conclusions:

• A future terminal crisis of capitalism may lead to a resurgence of authoritarian global governance or a reformed global democracy.
• Understanding historical patterns is key to navigating contemporary right-wing movements.
• The study provides insights into the potential consequences of resurgent populist nationalism and fascism.