The Affective Economies of the Great Replacement, on the Circulation of Fear and Love through Conspiracy Theories

⇒  Participate online

This presentation explores the functionality of emotions in the articulation and circulation of the great replacement conspiracy theory, a discursive formation postulating a nefarious orchestrated process bringing the end of the white western world by means of replacement of populations, e.g., Europeans being replaced by Muslims and migrants. In particular and following the work of Sarah Ahmed on affective economies my analysis centers on how the great replacement conspiracy theory articulates and circulates racial fear (towards the Other), and love (for a pure white nation) and how in their travel and circulation towards the digital imageboard 4chan/politically incorrect, these affective economies produced an “emotional surplus” seeking to activate the biopolitical defense of the white nation.