Rosenberg, J. (2026). Reactionary Bricolage: Curtis Yarvin and Postliberalism. Theory, Culture & Society, 0(0).

As the authoritarian right advances in the United States, developing an accurate understanding of the constituent elements of its worldview is a task of great urgency. Toward this end, I assess the writings of Curtis Yarvin, one of the US right’s most influential intellectuals. Yarvin’s novelty consists in his syncretic blend of non-liberal, non-democratic social theory with a computational understanding of society. Considering this work offers valuable insights into ascendant anti-democratic and computational styles of thought. In light of Yarvin’s influence on powerful figures in the Trump administration, this is by no means an academic exercise, but one with very high political stakes. Simply put, Curtis Yarvin may have something important to tell us not just about where we are, but also about where we are headed.