Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor have introduced the concept of "end times fascism" as a framework to understand a series of contemporary political, technological, and social developments they argue are interconnected. These include former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for a fortified "New Gaza," the accelerating competition among technology companies to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), and the rise of far-right political movements driven by nativist ideologies.

According to Klein and Taylor, end times fascism is a coalition of three distinct but overlapping groups: evangelical Christians with apocalyptic beliefs rooted in biblical prophecy; tech oligarchs who foresee a future shaped by advanced technology and human-made disasters; and ethno-nationalists focused on immigration as an existential threat. Despite their differences, these groups share a deep distrust of democratic processes and embrace a vision in which a select few survive or dominate. This vision may manifest as spiritual salvation, technological preservation, or exclusionary nationalism.

The authors identify key figures such as Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Argentine politician Javier Milei as leaders driving these intertwined agendas. They also highlight the role of European far-right parties and influential billionaires—Elon Musk serving as a prominent example—in furthering this ideology. Klein and Taylor suggest that their actions exacerbate instability and threaten democratic norms while diminishing prospects for a sustainable future.

This conceptual framework builds on Klein’s previous work, which has examined corporate power, neoliberal policies, climate change, and political dynamics through sharply focused narrative lenses. With Astra Taylor’s contributions on democracy and power structures, these themes are linked to highlight a pattern of authoritarian responses to crises that redirect public anger toward vulnerable populations rather than economic elites.

Klein and Taylor caution against expecting a replication of historical fascist models, noting differences such as the far right’s less disciplined organizational structures and new technological capacities for surveillance, autonomous weapons, and AI-driven repression. At the same time, they emphasize continuities, such as capitalist interests willing to profit from authoritarianism and violence. The authors also express concern about the role of AI companies in enabling state surveillance and economic displacement simultaneously.

Despite the grim prognosis, the authors dedicate substantial attention to forms of resistance and community activism that challenge these trends. They draw on examples including local opposition to Musk’s data center in Memphis, community defense against immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, and progressive political campaigns in New York. Klein and Taylor stress principles such as fostering joy and connection, advocating for disarmament of nuclear weapons and excessive wealth, and cultivating a rooted sense of place that counters exclusionary nationalism.

Their analysis concludes that combating end times fascism requires broad democratic mobilization and solidarity. They argue that the most potent threat to these authoritarian movements is a vigorous popular movement committed to defending democratic values and the planet’s diverse life forms.