A Swedish Proto-Fascist? Rudolf Kjellén and the Social Imaginary of the Far Right

The conceptualization of the ideology of today’s ascendant far right has become a hotly contested issue.

However, the discussion often takes its departure from a limited set of historical cases and an often simplified theoretical model.

This three year long project investigates the transnational intellectual and ideological development of the European far right during the period 1890-1933, studied in relation to the work of the Swedish political scientist, right-wing politician, and public intellectual Rudolf Kjellén (1864-1922).

Kjellén is one of Sweden’s internationally most renowned social thinkers, but remains both controversial and understudied. His work will be charted in the context of three fields: social science, politics, and culture.

By studying how Kjellén relates to trans-European currents of thought and how his own work was received in them, the project maps the formation of a social imaginary on the far right during the period.

Of particular interest is how this shared frame of reference contributed to ideological consolidation between traditionalist and more extreme elements on the right, facilitating ideological interaction and political cooperation between reactionary conservatives and revolutionary fascists.

By introducing both the case of Kjellén and the concept of the social imaginary to the debate on far right ideologies, the project will help develop the available historical register and theoretical framework.