NRx: A Brief Guide for the Perplexed
The rise of J.D. Vance to the Vice Presidency of the United States marks a significant, unsettling turn in American politics, reflecting the mainstreaming of neoreactionary (NRx) ideologies that seek to dismantle democratic structures in favor of hierarchical, authoritarian governance. Vance's connections with prominent NRx thinkers, particularly Curtis Yarvin, highlight this ideological shift toward rejecting democracy in favor of a society modelled after a corporate structure - a ‘GovCorp.’ Yarvin, a controversial figure with close ties to influential figures like Steve Bannon, Peter Thiel and Tucker Carlson, has emerged as a key intellectual force in this movement. His vision advocates a radical reimagining of governance, one where collective representation and civic responsibility are discarded in favor of centralized control and operational efficiency, at the expense of democratic participation and accountability.
Figure 1. JD Vance speaking with attendees at the 2021 Southwest Regional Conference hosted by Turning Point USAat the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona. Photograph by Gage Skidmore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/51128072732) NonCommercial-ShareAlike Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Central to NRx thought is Yarvin's concept of ‘The Cathedral,’ a term he uses to describe what he perceives as an informal alliance between academia, the media and government. According to Yarvin, these institutions work together to advance progressive ideologies while suppressing dissenting views. Yarvin's critique extends beyond accusations of institutional bias, positioning The Cathedral as a powerful ideological machine that maintains its influence by perpetuating a self-reinforcing ‘progressive orthodoxy.’ By framing democracy as an inherently coercive force that stifles intellectual and social freedom, Yarvin challenges the legitimacy of democratic institutions altogether. He posits that these institutions exist not to serve the public good, as they claim, but to indoctrinate and control, perpetuating what he views as a hypocritical adherence to principles of equality and representation that ultimately undermine genuine freedom. This view seeks to erode public trust in democratic structures, paving the way for a model of governance centered on authoritarian control, with loyalty, submission and efficiency prioritized over collective decision-making and accountability.
Figure 2. Peter Thiel speaking with attendees at the 2022 Converge Tech Summit at The Waste Management Phoenix Open at the Skybar at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona. Photograph by Gage Skidmore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/51876933345) NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The NRx alternative is to, first, ‘Retire All Government Employees’ (RAGE) in order to ‘reboot’ the economy (Musk’s new DOGE seems to be partially modelled on this), and, second, replace democratic institutions with a CEO (or even a Monarch). The resulting ‘GovCorp’ - a society run as a business - can then be regulated not via the ‘voice’ of its citizenry - there will be no democracy - but via their ability to ‘exit’ as consumers in a free market for governance.
The corporate structures of GovCorps are to be embedded within Yarvin’s Patchwork model, which envisions the world divided into small, autonomous territories or ‘patches,’ each governed independently as a quasi-sovereign city-state. Under this system, each patch operates as a self-contained entity with its own policies, laws and societal norms. Governance within each patch is offered as a service, with citizens acting more as customers than as members of a community. Yarvin argues that this model creates a form of competition among patches, where territories vie to attract residents by providing desirable policies or services. Rather than engaging in the democratic process to influence governance, individuals express their preferences through a consumer-like choice: they can ‘exit’ a patch if they disagree with its policies and seek a more compatible governance model elsewhere. This transactional approach to governance reduces the citizen-government relationship to one of mere loyalty, devoid of democratic accountability. In Yarvin's view, democracy is supplanted by a form of corporate-style authoritarianism that diminishes the role of public participation.
“Peter Thiel’s backing of J.D. Vance signifies NRx ideology’s entry into mainstream politics, promoting a model where elite control and corporate efficiency undermine democratic norms.”
Figure 3. Curtis Yarvin (https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Curtis_Yarvin.jpg) Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
J.D. Vance’s alignment with NRx ideology is also evident through his association with Peter Thiel, a billionaire who has become a prominent financier and proponent of anti-democratic governance models. Thiel’s investments reflect a dedication to creating alternatives to democratic systems, exemplified by his backing of projects like Curtis Yarvin’s Urbit software platform and the Seasteading Institute. These initiatives reflect libertarian and NRx ambitions to establish governance frameworks that function independently of state oversight. Thiel’s endorsement of The Sovereign Individual, a 1997 work by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg, further aligns him with NRx principles. In this book, Davidson and Rees-Mogg foresee a future where technology empowers wealthy individuals to ‘exit’ national governance and establish private sovereignties beyond collective governance structures. Thiel’s recent preface to a new edition of the book reinforces its influence among NRx advocates.
Figure 4. Seasteading. Credit Wendy Sitler-Roddier (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9742300@N06/3213494031/) NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
In The Sovereign Individual, Davidson and Rees-Mogg argue that advancing technology and global economic integration will gradually make nation-states obsolete. These shifts, they propose, will allow the wealthy elite to separate from public governance and establish autonomous, self-ruled enclaves. This form of private governance sidesteps democratic accountability, redefining governance as a market-driven enterprise where allegiance, wealth, and control replace civic engagement and public accountability as the foundation of power. Thiel’s endorsement reflects a willingness to deprioritize democratic principles in favor of a system where governance is determined by market dynamics. In this model, the wealthy act as an ‘untethered elite,’ operating outside traditional government structures and with minimal obligations toward society. Thiel’s support for these ideas resonates with NRx philosophy, which advocates for a hierarchical, authoritarian structure where governance is a private matter, enabling elites to ‘exit’ mainstream society.
Thiel’s support of the Seasteading Institute, led by Patri Friedman, exemplifies these NRx goals. Seasteading proposes creating autonomous, floating communities beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, representing Yarvin’s ‘exit’ philosophy in tangible form. In these enclaves, residents would be free to design societies according to their own rules, without national laws or democratic constraints, embodying a form of privatized governance accessible to those with the resources to participate.
Figure 5. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (Fair use)
Patri Friedman, influenced by his libertarian father David Friedman and neoliberal grandfather Milton Friedman, merges business and ideology in his promotion of ‘dynamic geography’ - a system where governance is no longer tied to a fixed territory but instead exists within a flexible, competitive framework. The Seasteading Institute has been developing modular, permanent cities at sea, or ‘seasteads.’ These structures, described as ‘almost Lovecraftian’ and ‘prefigurative gov-corps,’ attempt to operate outside democratic jurisdictions. Seasteads exemplify the NRx vision of a decentralized ‘patchwork’ of independent, competing GovCorps), each functioning as a gated community, city-state or even an off-world colony. Figures like Elon Musk share a similar vision, imagining potential human colonies on Mars.
In Friedman’s ‘dynamic geography,’ these sea-based ‘homesteads’ allow pioneers to experiment with new forms of governance. As outlined by Friedman and collaborator Joe Quirk:
David Friedman described a machinery of freedom. Milton Friedman advocated the freedom to choose. Patri identified a machinery of freedom to choose … he proposed an idea that became contagious: imagine ten thousand homesteads on the sea – ‘seasteads’ – where ocean pioneers will be free to experiment with new societies. Aquatic citizens could live in modular pods that can detach at any time and sail to join another floating city, compelling ocean governments to compete for mobile citizens. A market of competing governments … would allow the best ideas for governance to emerge peacefully, unleashing unimaginable progress. … By such means, an economic and moral argument could become a technological experiment. (pp. 8-9)
Urban sociologist Rowland Atkinson’s concept of ‘libertecture’ sheds light on the spatial dimensions of NRx and libertarian values. Libertecture encompasses urban developments like seasteads, gated communities, start-up cities and other forms of ‘freespace’, each structured to prioritise independence and autonomy for the privileged at the expense of democratic inclusivity. These spaces foster exclusivity, creating environments accessible only to those with wealth or connections, and undermine the democratic ideal of public, shared space. Atkinson’s analysis extends to other libertecture spaces, including digital ‘portal spaces,’ remote ‘pioneer exclaves,’ and even urban areas abandoned due to diverted investment. Each of these zones prioritizes wealth and autonomy over inclusivity and civic engagement, fostering social and economic divides that deepen inequality. By promoting environments that devalue collective responsibility, libertecture contributes to a fragmented urban landscape, where autonomy is privileged and social bonds weakened.
Nick Land, an accelerationist ‘philosopher’ and influential figure in NRx circles, provides a more developed theoretical framework for these ideas, particularly through his concept of the ‘Dark Enlightenment.’ Land argues that democracy, with its emphasis on equality and accountability, impedes technological and social progress, which he believes should be led by an elite few. For Land, democratic values like fairness and equality are outdated obstacles to innovation, and he advocates for a governance model where decision-making authority is concentrated among intellectual and technological elites. His views align closely with Yarvin’s, promoting a society governed by those deemed most capable, with little regard for public input or accountability.
Land’s concept of ‘hyperstition’ - the idea that speculative ideas can shape reality simply by being propagated - plays a significant role in NRx ideology. Cyberpunk literature, particularly novels like Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash and William Gibson's Neuromancer, serves as a foundation for hyperstitional thinking in NRx circles. In Snow Crash, Stephenson introduces the concept of the ‘metaverse’ and envisions a world of quasi-sovereign city-states that closely resemble Yarvin's Patchwork model. Similarly, Neuromancer, which popularized the concept of ‘cyberspace,’ depicts a future where corporations control society, side-lining national governments and public interest. These novels, with their privatized, authoritarian structures, provide NRx advocates with a blueprint for reimagining governance as a privilege reserved for an elite.
“Hyperstition uses speculative visions to normalise authoritarianism, reshaping public perception to view elite-led governance as a desirable alternative to failing democracies.”
Figure 6. Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg with a new preface by Peter Thiel (Fair use).
NRx is all about dreaming of a certain kind. The process is central to the NRx hegemonic strategy. We might, for example, intuit that seasteads will not be established anytime soon. Their purpose is to reflect on the ostensible limits of freedom imposed by the state, so that others ‘will dream up and implement more practical alternatives’. For Land, time, like much else, is non-linear and thus relations between cause and effect are always complex. Futurity is in the here and now in the sense that it is not something that just unfolds; it is something we create. On occasion portended social imaginaries – designs, diagrams, fictions, maps, movies, plans, philosophies, prototypes, theories, dreams and more – become generative of the future; it is as if the tentacles of future entities reach back through time in order to bring into being the very elements necessary for their own materialization (ChatGPT comes to mind!).
Projects – or prototypes - like The Sovereign Individual, seasteading, and Yarvin's Urbit are examples of hyperstition in action, blurring the boundary between fiction and reality. The Seasteading Institute’s autonomous floating communities mirror the cyberpunk vision of isolated, privatized enclaves beyond state jurisdiction, while Yarvin’s Patchwork model introduces competition between city-states similar to the fragmented societies in Snow Crash, where governance is a marketplace of services rather than a democratic engagement. By presenting these speculative ideas as practical alternatives, NRx advocates seek to reshape society, promoting elite control and undermining public accountability. Interest in creating independent states is growing, bolstered by political and institutional support. Organizations like the Cato Institute, Mises Institute, Foundation for Economic Education, and Mont Pelerin Society now back enclave libertarian ideas promoted by entities like the Start-up Cities Institute.
The ‘red pill’ metaphor from The Matrix has also become a powerful symbol within NRx ideology, representing an ‘awakening’ to the supposed truth that democratic values are illusory, concealing an underlying superiority of authoritarian rule. For NRx proponents, the democratic emphasis on equality and accountability is not merely flawed but fundamentally deceptive, masking a natural hierarchy that authoritarian governance could better serve. The red pill is a gateway to NRx’s worldview, which trivializes democracy and elevates authoritarianism, replacing civic engagement with loyalty to an elite authority. This metaphor has helped NRx thinkers recruit followers by presenting an authoritarian worldview as a path to enlightenment.
The rise of mainstream figures like Vance, who endorse or tacitly support NRx principles, poses serious threats to democratic society. As NRx ideas infiltrate mainstream politics, they introduce governance models that fundamentally oppose democracy. This influence risks transforming urban spaces from shared, public environments into libertecture-inspired zones designed to serve a privileged elite, leaving the majority to navigate a landscape stripped of public services and collective resources. In a world already grappling with critical issues like climate change, economic inequality and social fragmentation, NRx’s emphasis on loyalty-driven governance and individual autonomy represents a dangerous divergence from democratic values and civic responsibility. The increasing influence of figures like Vance, Yarvin, Thiel and Musk (who also claims to have been ‘red-pilled’) signals a shift in American politics that could weaken the foundations of democratic life, replacing them with a structure where wealth and power determine societal roles, undermining the collective principles that have traditionally supported democratic society.
