The Dark Side of Green: Social Dominance, Authoritarianism, and the Environment

• In Event: The Political Psychology of Climate Change

Abstract

Are environmental issues like climate change considered a threat primarily by those
on the left? Or can those on the right be made to care about the impending threat these issues pose? Violent attacks such as the Uvalde and Buffalo shootings committed by white nationalists warn of a disturbing future for environmental politics. The beliefs of the perpetrators of these disturbing acts have been labeled as “ecofascist”, as manifestos published online blame immigrants for overpopulation and environmental destruction of Western nations. Ecofascism is an ideology that links environmentalism to white supremacy and provides a platform to reject outsiders. Though not yet empirically studied, I attempt to ground this concept in right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance, and nationalism which involve outgroup aggression and hierarchy. Using a survey experiment, I test if support for the environment and ecofascism among the right can be mediated by the effect of right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance, and nationalism. By framing climate change with these appeals, I find that my three proposed mediators do not necessarily drive support for environmental policy among the sample much less the Republican and right-leaning respondents. Generally, those with higher right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and nationalism do support ecofascist proposals but only among those just have these predispositions but not necessarily among Republicans or right-learners.

Author

• Ramona Ann Bulan Alhambra, UCLA