Accelerationism is a two-sided ideology, with its alt-right alternative clearly outweighing its radical left variant. On the smaller left, it supports Marxism. That ideology, from its beginning, has considered capitalism to be a flawed socioeconomic system that needs to be overthrown and replaced with communism.

For leftist accelerationism, those weaknesses need to be exploited and accelerated in its downfall with violence, terrorism, and any actions, subtle or not, that will result in its demise. For example, in its mildest form — and shared with its moderate alt-right brethren — it advocates working within democratic means by voting for the most radical candidates, even those with whom the accelerationist may disagree, in the expectation that moderate candidates will continue to support the status quo while radicals will destabilize it.

MAGA can be understood as just such a right-wing destabilizing force since what “greatness” its enthusiasts would return to is unclear, taken for granted, and disputed. So, whatever they think is to be returned to will require an extended period of disruption and social tension. It can be said that such a period of divisiveness and social unease is upon us at present, especially with militant MAGA supporters and Trump running for the presidency among a collection of lawsuits.

The situation with alt-right-wing accelerationism is far more severe. Destabilization is to be pursued by any means, especially non-democratic. According to Wikipedia, “since the late 2010s, international networks of neo-fascists, neo-Nazis, White nationalists, and White supremacists have increasingly used the term “accelerationism” to refer to right-wing extremist goals, and have been known to refer to an “acceleration” of racial conflict through violent means such as assassinations, murders, terrorist attacks and eventual societal collapse. . .”

White supremacists and nationalists are one recognized group of accelerationists who are incited by the belief that the future of the white race is bleak and leading to a majority-minority racial society. Thus, they believe they must employ any means necessary to hasten the collapse of the current democratic, neoliberal, capitalist socioeconomic system in favor of a white Ethnostate. Means for bringing down the system range from anything disruptive to divisive societal activities. They believe that any such divisive reactions, including those that may threaten the white race, can be a useful tool for motivating more reserved white nationalists to get off the fence. Terrorist mass shootings, social disharmony over the legality of assault weapons, and gun control, in general, are examples of unrest at present.

Jews along with racial minorities, are a target of accelerationist disruptions. As one anonymous accelerationist posted online, “acceleration means making things worse, thus alienating the White population and getting the fence sitters off the fences. . . (T)he (Zionist Occupied Government) will double-down on censorship, gun-grabbing, free speech, etc.” and create useful sociopolitical divisiveness. Another wrote. “True change and the change we need to enact only arises in the great crucible of crisis. A gradual change is never going to achieve victory. Stability and comfort are the enemies of revolutionary change. Therefore [sic] we must destabilize and discomfort society where ever [sic] possible.” This writer also affirms that the murder of worshippers in mosques was useful in bringing this social chaos into the everyday world.

Another writer uses this view to call for acts of violence that will expedite inevitable collapse, “At this juncture, social malaise cannot be halted, only accelerated onward to the abyss, capitulating the whole vile episode of this end cycle.” Another describes himself as an “accelerationist NS” (national socialist i.e., neo-nazi) whose photo banner reads “strew the streets with the bodies of bureaucrats” while his bio includes the phrase, “Molotov [firebomb] the fed[eral government]. Another embraces a “siege culture,” that sees the government as the enemy which deserves to be militarily overthrown by organized militias like the fascist Patriot Front.

A vivid example of this siege mentality was seen in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol in Washington (and lesser events at some state capitals) in which Donald Trump had a key “supporting” role. This event, and his role in it, are currently under scrutiny by legal authorities who understand the events of that day as acceleration against the Constitution and democracy — which they were! Do you think participants were accelerationist -activists, -followers, or -enablers? Were you alarmed, transfixed, or outraged at what you saw? Why?

Siege, a neo-Nazi publication of essays, predicts that “the final END of society is accelerating” because “the entire foundation itself is thoroughly corroded,” and issues a call to violence that will expedite the inevitable collapse, writing, “At this juncture, social malaise cannot be halted, only accelerated onward to the abyss, capitulating the whole vile episode of this end cycle.”

Did you wonder why social unrest is so intense today? Did you know about accelerationism in the right wing? About the general unrest of a siege culture awaiting yet another mass shooting with assault weapons? About families and friends separated by politics who can’t even talk about their differences. Do you engage in “lib-tard” kinds of remarks that fuel social incivility? What can you do to de-accelerate any acceleration you know of? Are you an accelerator without realizing it? If you are on the fence, will you fall to the radical accelerationist side and contribute to unrest and incivility? Or follow MAOneA (MA1A) as the alternative?

Tom Regelski, a former Brocton resident, can be reached at tom.regelski@helsinki.fi