Neo-paganism in Alain de Benoist: analysis of an ideological restructuring of the contemporary European radical Right

Abstract

Considering the growth of the contemporary radical right in Europe, this article seeks to carry out an-in-depth and contextualised analysis of one of the most relevant ideological structures of today, the "neo-pagan" vision postulated by the French philosopher and founder of the Nouvelle Droite, Alain de Benoist.  After exposing the theoretical intertwining of paganism with the articulation of the worldview of the post-World War II radical right, we proceed to an analysis of the main theses defended in the articulation of paganism. In this sense, special attention is paid not only to the exposition of the theses, but also to the justification and the thread of thought that leads Alain de Benoist to his conclusions. Finally, it is concluded that this author's pagan approach represents a conscious and revolutionary attempt to restructure the radical right ideologically after 1945, unifying a good part of the classical thinkers of the radical right under a new perspective in pursuit of the creation of a new moral ethic that aims to serve as the basis for the constitution of a society based on hierarchy, communitarianism and the defence of particular cultures in the face of multiculturalism. Finally, the great relevance of the approaches of paganism in shaping the worldview of the contemporary European radical right is presented.