SECTION 3:
ECOFASCISM
The current social, political, and economic landscapes in South and
Southeast Asia are shaped by an insidious alliance between fascist
and fundamentalist forces and corporate powerhouses. This nexus
of authoritarianism and corporate greed drives the relentless capture
of land, fueling the climate crisis and intensifying the already brutal
conditions faced by millions.
The ongoing economic crises mentioned in Section 1 did not merely
exacerbate existing inequalities, but they also offered an opportunity
for fascist and fundamentalist ideologies to gain traction by exploiting
the frustrations and fears of people. In South Asia and Southeast Asia,
where a significant portion of the population remains entrenched in
informal economies, the far right’s narrative diverged from the West’s
promise of returning to a past of world-dominance Instead, it capitalized
on aspirations for future prosperity, often intertwined with neoliberal
ideals of entrepreneurship. This potent mix of individualized neoliberalism
and authoritarianism has fueled the fascist rise in emerging economies,
leading to a dangerous confluence of environmental degradation and
social oppression.104
WHILE LIVING IN RESOURCE-RICH
GEOGRAPHIES, BOTH SOUTH
ASIAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN
POPULATIONS DO NOT OFTEN
BENEFIT FROM THEIR NATURAL
RESOURCES DUE TO PRIVATIZATION.
While living in resource-rich geographies, both South Asian and
Southeast Asian populations do not often benefit from their natural
resources due to privatization. Government mismanagement of
responses to climate catastrophes, neglect and inaction, and corruption
– with prioritization of private business interests over public welfare105 –
have led to various negative outcomes, such as people living in densely
104
Pinheiro-Machado, Rosana. (2023). The Rise of the Radical Right in the Global South.
105
U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre. (n.d.). Corruption and water governance in the Mekong River Basin. https://
www.u4.no/publications/corruption-and-water-governance-in-the-mekong-river-basin
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