Climate Change and the Politics of Apocalyptic Redirection
| Author | Ben Cross |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/14789299211060745 |
| Published date | 01 May 2023 |
| Date | 01 May 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/14789299211060745
Political Studies Review
2023, Vol. 21(2) 223 –237
© The Author(s) 2021
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/14789299211060745
journals.sagepub.com/home/psrev
Climate Change and the
Politics of Apocalyptic
Redirection
Ben Cross
Abstract
Alison McQueen’s study of the historical role of apocalyptic ideas in realist political theory
cautiously proposes the ‘redirection’ of apocalyptic thought as a plausible alternative to its rejection.
Apocalyptic redirection, so understood, uses apocalyptic language to describe potential future
catastrophes in order to inspire drastic action to prevent them. Although McQueen acknowledges
that apocalyptic redirection may have certain risks, she suggests it may be an appropriate response
to the crisis of climate change. In this article, I aim to show that this use of the discourse of
apocalyptic redirection is ideologically problematic. I argue that it involves conflating the interests
of those who are at least moderately materially comfortable with the interests of humanity as a
whole. I will also draw on the 2019 ‘Stop Adani Convoy’ in Australia as a case study to show how
the ideological character of this discourse renders it ill-suited to generating popular support for
action on climate change, and liable to reproduce existing power relations.
Keywords
climate change, apocalypticism, Adani Carmichael Mine, political realism
Accepted: 1 November 2021
Introduction
In her recent study of the history of apocalyptic thought in the writings of Machiavelli, Hobbes
and Morgenthau, Alison McQueen (2018: 196) suggests that an apocalypse-inspired ‘salutary
fear’ of impending climate catastrophe might be useful for the purposes of mobilising collec-
tive action in order to prevent further deterioration of the climate. McQueen describes this as
a ‘redirection’ of apocalyptic thought. In contrast to apocalyptic thought proper, which, on her
view, understands catastrophe as a prelude to utopia, apocalyptic redirection describes catas-
trophe as an appropriate object of fear, to be avoided if at all possible.
After showing how Hobbes and Morgenthau made use of apocalyptic redirection for
their own purposes, McQueen argues that it may hold some appeal for political realists
School of Philosophy, Wuhan University, Hubei, China
Corresponding author:
Ben Cross, Wuhan University, Bayi Road 299, Wuchang District, Hubei 430072, China.
Email: bcro8137@alumni.sydney.edu.au
1060745PSW0010.1177/14789299211060745Political Studies ReviewCross
research-article2021
Article
To continue reading
Request your trial