Accelerationism and the Dark Enlightenment: The Philosophies Fueling America's Current Chaos
This was all planned
The Unseen Forces Shaping Today's America
For most us — Americans especially— the events of early 2025 have been confusing, surreal, dystopian.
Elon Musk, a billionaire never elected to any public office, now wields more control over the U.S. government than any president in history. His rapid takeover of key agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and the General Services Administration, has sent shockwaves through the federal workforce. Public protests erupt daily, while panic spreads among government employees as Musk’s unelected appointees dismantle essential agencies and reshape policies with unprecedented speed.
How did we get here? The answer lies in a set of radical philosophies—accelerationism and the Dark Enlightenment—that have taken root among Silicon Valley elites, libertarian ideologues, and far-right thinkers.
To the average citizen, the chaos unfolding in the country seems inexplicable—and without a logical framework, citizens have not known how to anticipate, nor react.
But within these ideological frameworks, everything makes perfect sense.
Accelerationists believe that society must be pushed toward rapid technological and economic collapse so that a new, superior system can emerge.
The Dark Enlightenment, meanwhile, argues that democracy itself is a failed experiment and that governance should be handed over to corporate and technological elites.
These ideas were once the realm of obscure internet blogs and academic fringe movements. Now, thanks to the current takeover of the U.S. federal government by unelected billionaires, they are shaping the very fabric of American governance.
Most Americans remain unaware of these extremist ideologies driving the current crisis. In this essay, we’ll break down what accelerationism and the Dark Enlightenment are, who their key figures and followers are, and how their philosophies are reshaping the United States. Most importantly, we’ll provide clear steps for those who want to fight back and defend democracy before it’s too late.
What is Accelerationism?
Accelerationism is a philosophy that argues for pushing technological and societal change to its breaking point, believing that rapid transformation—often through crisis—is the only way to move forward. Originating in Marxist thought, left-wing accelerationists once believed that speeding up capitalism’s contradictions would lead to its collapse and the creation of a better system. However, in the 21st century, a more dangerous right-wing form of accelerationism has taken hold.
Right-wing accelerationists believe that democracy, human rights, and traditional social structures are inefficient and must be swept away to make room for a hyper-technological, authoritarian future. This often includes:
Using AI and automation to replace human labor, regardless of economic fallout.
Pushing crypto and decentralized finance to weaken state-controlled economies.
Encouraging social and political collapse as a means to create a new order.
Advocating for billionaire-led governance instead of elected leadership.
The Dark Enlightenment: The Anti-Democratic Vision of the Future
If accelerationism is the vehicle, the Dark Enlightenment is the roadmap. Coined by philosopher Nick Land, the Dark Enlightenment is a rejection of democracy and egalitarianism. Instead, it promotes:
Neocameralism: The belief that countries should be run like corporations, with CEOs (or kings) at the top making unilateral decisions.
Hierarchy Over Equality: A world where intelligence, wealth, and technological prowess determine who should rule.
Anti-Democracy Ideals: The belief that democracy is an outdated, ineffective system that leads to stagnation and must be replaced with a more ‘rational’ form of governance—often meaning authoritarian rule.
The movement's key thinkers include:
Nick Land: The original philosopher of the Dark Enlightenment, advocating for a world where technological elites hold absolute power.
Curtis Yarvin (Mencius Moldbug): A tech blogger who argues that democracy has failed and that governments should function like corporations, with rulers who cannot be removed by popular vote.
Peter Thiel: Billionaire venture capitalist who has openly stated that he believes democracy and freedom are incompatible, and who has funded far-right accelerationist political candidates.
The Tech Elite’s Role in Accelerating Collapse
Accelerationist and Dark Enlightenment ideals are no longer just fringe internet theories—they are being actively implemented by powerful figures in Silicon Valley and beyond. Their influence can be seen in:
The AI Arms Race: Tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen push for rapid AI development with little to no regulation, despite concerns about job losses, misinformation, and national security risks.
Crypto and Libertarian Governance: Figures like Balaji Srinivasan promote "network states"—privately-run digital nations that bypass traditional governance, effectively privatizing sovereignty.
The Undermining of Democracy: Wealthy elites funding politicians and policies that weaken government institutions while consolidating their own power.
Musk’s current role as the de facto leader of the U.S. government is a direct result of this ideology in action. His takeover of key communication platforms, alliances with accelerationist thinkers, and disregard for democratic norms all point to a larger strategy: destabilizing the old system to make way for a new order, one controlled by the ultra-wealthy and technologically elite.
Why This Matters to You
For everyday Americans—the so-called "little people" that these elites dismiss—the consequences of these ideologies are profound:
Erosion of Workers' Rights: Automation and AI replacing jobs without safeguards.
Collapse of Democratic Institutions: A weakening of voting rights, public accountability, and governance structures.
Technocratic Authoritarianism: A world where billionaires make laws with no input from the public.
But this is not inevitable. Awareness is the first step, and action must follow.
How to Fight Back
Accelerationists and Dark Enlightenment adherents thrive on public ignorance. Their biggest advantage is that most people don't understand what they’re doing. Here’s how to fight back:
Educate Yourself and Others: Share information about these ideologies with friends, family, and community groups. Remember, most people have NEVER heard of the concepts we’re discussing here today.
Support Pro-Democracy Candidates: Vote for officials who prioritize democratic institutions and worker protections.
Demand Tech Regulation: Push for policies that ensure AI and emerging technologies serve the public good, not just tech billionaires.
Organize for Labor Rights: Join or support unions that advocate for protections against automation-driven job loss.
Reclaim the Public Sphere: Engage in local governance, school boards, and community organizations to counteract elite-driven narratives. Call your representatives in government — not once, but repeatedly. Show up for meetings of your local government. Run for office in your town.
Resist Digital Authoritarianism: Support alternative social media and communication platforms that are not controlled by accelerationist ideologues. Investigate who owns the news and social media platforms sources you frequent. Reconsider where you want to spend your time (and/or money) online.
The Future is in Our Hands
In the past, we had the luxury of assuming Accelerationism and the Dark Enlightenment were just fantasies of the internet’s frustrated—and mostly hidden—fringe.
Because of our ignorance, these forces have emerged from the dark web, and are now shaping the world around us in ways we can not ignore. The tech elites who embrace these ideologies are not working for the public good—they are engineering a future that benefits themselves at the expense of democracy and equality.
But history is full of moments where ordinary people stood up against powerful forces and won. The fight for democracy is not over; in fact, it is only beginning now, as we start to understand the threat. The tools to resist are still in our hands. The question is: Will we use them?
The time to act is now.
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You forgot one important aspect, which is that people don’t matter. Both ideologies posit that there are too many people on earth, their number needs to be reduced. This “culling” does not happen along racist prejudice, the lines run along class. If you could not create a successful life for yourself, i.e. don’t have enough money and status to survive, then you don’t deserve to live. Thus, death of millions is not an accident, not even collateral damage, it is by design.
The people Musk is firing are ALSO unelected.
You didn't have a problem with their undeserved salaries or ruinous effect on democracy.
How it is possible that nobody can hear themselves?