Populism in the Technospheric

Authors

James Ranger, The Hasso Plattner Institute

Abstract

I argue that the technospheric condition - a socio-technical reality shaped by social acceleration, the industrialization of memory, and mediatization - serves as a structural catalyst for the repoliticisation of the status quo, necessitating a rethinking of Ernesto Laclau’s discursive approach to populism. Drawing on insights from Bernard Stiegler, Hartmut Rosa, and others, I characterize contemporary social life as deeply entangled with technospheric forces, which exacerbate social problems and provoke counterhegemonic responses. These responses, politically solidified in both emancipatory and reactionary populisms, are not only shaped by populist strategy but also increasingly influenced by algorithmic steering on social media. Thus, the technospheric condition both fuels and complicates the dynamics of populism, as it simultaneously amplifies social disruptions and mediates their expression.

Recommended Citation

Ranger, James (2025) "Populism in the Technospheric," Fast Capitalism: Vol. 22: Iss. 1, Article 13.
DOI: 10.32855/1930-014X.1012
Available at: https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/fastcapitalism/vol22/iss1/13