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Videos by Cassidy Thomas

Ecofascism – an ideology that mixes environmentalism with racism – is undergoing a worrying reviv... more Ecofascism – an ideology that mixes environmentalism with racism – is undergoing a worrying revival. It’s already been linked to two recent white supremacist terror attacks.

Produced by Tim Hume, Tom Bennett, Cal Bateman, and Louise McLoughlin of Vice World News as part of their "Decade of Hate Series"

Featuring myself and other experts in the field.

4 views

Conference Papers by Cassidy Thomas

Research paper thumbnail of At the Intersection of Eco-Crises, Eco-Anxiety, and Political Turbulence: A Primer on Twenty-First Century Ecofascism

Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, 2021

This article explores the concept of ecofascism during the twenty-first century. In the midst of ... more This article explores the concept of ecofascism during the twenty-first century. In the midst of worsening ecological crises, a revival of ecofascist rhetoric and action has been observed. Despite this resurfacing, there is a lack of theorizing around the topic. This discussion will explore how the ecofascist label has been applied in different contexts historically, and the ways it may manifest in the twenty-first century. We hope that this stimulates conversation and awareness around ecofascism and serves as a guide to identify various ecofascist rhetorical tools, policies, and proposals.

Research paper thumbnail of Theorizing Embodied, Collective, and Societal Learning Through Prefigurative Social Movements

2021 Adult Education in Global Times Conference Proceedings, 2021

This paper theorizes adult learning as a multi-leveled, emergent process of interactions between ... more This paper theorizes adult learning as a multi-leveled, emergent process of interactions between individuals, groups, and societal systems. We theorize from the context of prefigurative social movements that are enacting values of direct democracy, solidarity economics, and equity. We analyze Occupy encampments as sites in which individuals, movement groups, and society learn as complex adaptive systems. The theorizing of these learning processes has implications for adult education theory, research, and practice.

Research paper thumbnail of Overpopulation Discourse: Patriarchy, Racism, and the Specter of Ecofascism

Perspectives on Global Development and Technology , 2019

As our current climate crises increase in severity, discussions on solutions have found themselve... more As our current climate crises increase in severity, discussions on solutions have found themselves at the forefront of mainstream media, and talked about by political actors and economic elites. While many of these solutions may seem ethical or even the an- swer to our ecological problem, we must take a critical look at the root causes in order to understand what actions are necessary. Without this, our discussions fall short, and tend to negatively affect marginalized communities. Family-planning programs aimed at the suppression of certain populations is one example used when discussing how to combat overpopulation in order to alleviate climate change. This superficial, West- ern, capitalist-driven idea and discussion, laced with sexist and racist undertones, is the discourse we will be analyzing. By employing a critical decolonial and ecofemi- nist lens, we will critique this discourse, and argue that it’s an all-too-common tool of deflection and scapegoating that white environmentalism employs in order to ignore historic power relations. Further, we will illuminate historical roots and trends around the family-planning movement, such as anti-immigrant sentiment, nationalism, and ecofascism.

Research paper thumbnail of Decolonizing Food Systems: Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Revitalization, and Agroecology as Counter-Hegemonic Movements

Perspectives on Global Development and Technology , 2018

We employ an intersection of critical approaches to examine the global food system crisis and its... more We employ an intersection of critical approaches to examine the global food system crisis and its alternatives. We examine counterhegemonic movements and organizations advancing programs of constructive resistance and decolonization based on food sovereignty, indigenous revitalization and agroecology. Food system alternatives rooted in intersectional critiques of the world-system open spaces for materially-grounded, commons-based socioecological relations that make just, sustainable, and equitable worlds possible beyond a civilization in crisis.

News Features and Interviews by Cassidy Thomas

Research paper thumbnail of The rise of eco-fascism -Coda Story

Research paper thumbnail of Suspect in Buffalo rampage cited 'ecofascism' to justify actions- Washington Post

Research paper thumbnail of Eco-fascism: The Greenwashing of the Far Right— Deutsche Welle

Ecofascism – an ideology that mixes environmentalism with racism – is undergoing a worrying reviv... more Ecofascism – an ideology that mixes environmentalism with racism – is undergoing a worrying revival. It’s already been linked to two recent white supremacist terror attacks.

Produced by Tim Hume, Tom Bennett, Cal Bateman, and Louise McLoughlin of Vice World News as part of their "Decade of Hate Series"

Featuring myself and other experts in the field.

4 views

Research paper thumbnail of At the Intersection of Eco-Crises, Eco-Anxiety, and Political Turbulence: A Primer on Twenty-First Century Ecofascism

Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, 2021

This article explores the concept of ecofascism during the twenty-first century. In the midst of ... more This article explores the concept of ecofascism during the twenty-first century. In the midst of worsening ecological crises, a revival of ecofascist rhetoric and action has been observed. Despite this resurfacing, there is a lack of theorizing around the topic. This discussion will explore how the ecofascist label has been applied in different contexts historically, and the ways it may manifest in the twenty-first century. We hope that this stimulates conversation and awareness around ecofascism and serves as a guide to identify various ecofascist rhetorical tools, policies, and proposals.

Research paper thumbnail of Theorizing Embodied, Collective, and Societal Learning Through Prefigurative Social Movements

2021 Adult Education in Global Times Conference Proceedings, 2021

This paper theorizes adult learning as a multi-leveled, emergent process of interactions between ... more This paper theorizes adult learning as a multi-leveled, emergent process of interactions between individuals, groups, and societal systems. We theorize from the context of prefigurative social movements that are enacting values of direct democracy, solidarity economics, and equity. We analyze Occupy encampments as sites in which individuals, movement groups, and society learn as complex adaptive systems. The theorizing of these learning processes has implications for adult education theory, research, and practice.

Research paper thumbnail of Overpopulation Discourse: Patriarchy, Racism, and the Specter of Ecofascism

Perspectives on Global Development and Technology , 2019

As our current climate crises increase in severity, discussions on solutions have found themselve... more As our current climate crises increase in severity, discussions on solutions have found themselves at the forefront of mainstream media, and talked about by political actors and economic elites. While many of these solutions may seem ethical or even the an- swer to our ecological problem, we must take a critical look at the root causes in order to understand what actions are necessary. Without this, our discussions fall short, and tend to negatively affect marginalized communities. Family-planning programs aimed at the suppression of certain populations is one example used when discussing how to combat overpopulation in order to alleviate climate change. This superficial, West- ern, capitalist-driven idea and discussion, laced with sexist and racist undertones, is the discourse we will be analyzing. By employing a critical decolonial and ecofemi- nist lens, we will critique this discourse, and argue that it’s an all-too-common tool of deflection and scapegoating that white environmentalism employs in order to ignore historic power relations. Further, we will illuminate historical roots and trends around the family-planning movement, such as anti-immigrant sentiment, nationalism, and ecofascism.

Research paper thumbnail of Decolonizing Food Systems: Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Revitalization, and Agroecology as Counter-Hegemonic Movements

Perspectives on Global Development and Technology , 2018

We employ an intersection of critical approaches to examine the global food system crisis and its... more We employ an intersection of critical approaches to examine the global food system crisis and its alternatives. We examine counterhegemonic movements and organizations advancing programs of constructive resistance and decolonization based on food sovereignty, indigenous revitalization and agroecology. Food system alternatives rooted in intersectional critiques of the world-system open spaces for materially-grounded, commons-based socioecological relations that make just, sustainable, and equitable worlds possible beyond a civilization in crisis.