The Dark Enlightenment, also known as the neo-reactionary movement (NRx), is a philosophical and political ideology that rejects democratic and egalitarian principles, advocating for a return to hierarchical and traditional forms of governance.
Also referred to as technofacism, this ideology promotes an absolute monarchy or corporate-style feudalism.
AS this is being written on the day after US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on everybody and broke the world economy.
Welcome to this high tech New Right, the technofacists who seem to be running the USA at present.
Vanity Fair wrote an interesting take on this New Right in 2022.
Believe me, this New Right is not a part of the conservative movement as most people would understand it. And much of the underlying philosophy seem to originate with a man called Curtis Yarvin.
Curtis Yarvin – Remember his Name
If you’ve never heard of Curtis Yarvin, remember his name. His philosophy or parts of it are shared by many of the tech industry elite, referred to here as the Techbros. You will also recognize a more than a disturbing USA government swing towards his kind of techno-fascism.
Yarvin, also known by his pseudonym Mencius Moldbug, is a key figure in the neo-reactionary movement, which advocates for authoritarian governance structures over democratic systems. He is also referred to as Lord Yarvin or Our Prophet.
Techbros love Yarvin
Tech industry elites, often referred to as TechBros, find Curtis Yarvin intriguing due to his provocative and radical ideas that challenge conventional political and governance paradigms.
His beliefs are better described as a tangled set of frameworks for critiquing the systems of power and propaganda that most people reading this probably think of as “the way the world is.” And one point shapes all of it: It is a project to overthrow the thrust of progress, at least such as liberals understand the word.
This philosophy has become quietly edgy and cool in new tech outposts like Miami and Austin, and in downtown Manhattan, where New Right–ish politics are in.
No one is leading this movement, but it does have key figures, like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, JD Vance, Blake Masters, Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and David Sacks.
Dark Enlightenment Believes
This philosophy, also referred to Dark Enlightenment, is a critique of modern liberal democracy and egalitarianism, which he views as failed experiments that lead to inefficiency, disorder, and societal decline.
According to him, Western democracy has devolved into a “bureaucratic oligarchy,” where real power has come to be with unelected elites in government institutions rather than elected officials, the politicians.
An illustration of this is when billionaire Elon Musk began his appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference CPAC recently, brandishing a chainsaw that was gifted to him by Argentine President Javier Milei. The chainsaw was used by the Argentine leader during his campaign to symbolize his proposals to shred the bloated state. Milei came on stage to pass the power tool to Musk.
The Dark Enlightenment critiques post-war capitalism for its emphasis on welfare and accountability, which are seen as obstacles to the accumulation of power by oligarchs. This critique aligns with efforts to dismantle social safety nets and reduce government oversight in favor of corporate interests.
Guest at the Inauguration Coronation Ball
Curtis Yarvin’s outsize influence on tech executives has now made its way to Washington during this Trump regime. I mean, Curtis Yarvin was a feted guest at Trump’s so-called “Coronation Ball” in January 2025.
Vice President J.D. Vance, a protege of Peter Thiel’s, spoke admiringly of the blogger’s influence on his thinking when interviewed on a podcast in July 2024
And while Mark Andreessen’s role in the Trump White House is unofficial, The Washington Post reported in January 2025 that the executive “has been quietly and successfully recruiting candidates for positions across Trump’s Washington.”
Elon hand his technofacism is well known as is the story of his Grandfather Joshua Halderman and the Technocracy movement.
The Cathedral
Yarvin argues that democracy is inherently flawed and controlled by an ideological elite he calls “the Cathedral,” comprising academia, media, and government institutions. (What is Maga attacking most fervently?)
He proposes replacing this system with a centralized, corporate-style monarchy led by a CEO-like sovereign. This vision resonates with Silicon Valley leaders who prioritize efficiency and centralized decision-making, mirroring their own corporate governance models.
Neo Cameralism
Yarvin’s concept of “neo-cameralism” reimagines governance as a corporate entity where citizens act as shareholders and elect a CEO-monarch with absolute power. This model appeals to TechBros because it aligns with their belief in meritocracy, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making, while minimizing the complexities of pluralistic democracy.
Technocratic Principles
This vision of algorithmic governance aligns with Silicon Valley’s emphasis on data-driven solutions. Companies like Palantir operationalize these principles by leveraging surveillance technologies to enhance state efficiency—a concept Yarvin supports
Figures like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel embody this synthesis by leveraging their technological influence to advocate for authoritarian governance models.
Musk’s ventures in AGI and space exploration reflect aspirations for technocratic control, while Thiel’s support for neo-reactionary ideas highlights the ideological overlap. Both are part of a broader movement seeking to dismantle democratic norms in favor of elite-led systems empowered by technology.
In conclusion, the words of Yarvin and Musk
News is the first draft of history. Fake news is the first draft of fake history https://t.co/MjAD6CwvsD
— Curtis Yarvin (@curtis_yarvin) March 31, 2025
If you want to read more of Curtis Yarvin, check out is creepy Stubstack – Grey Mirror
