Populism as an Obstruction to Ecological and Societal Change

Rethinking the interplay between right-wing populism, capitalism, and environmental policies, with a focus on the consequential impacts on historically colonized nations, the entry explores the role of green policy solutions in Europe and the United States in driving a new wave of colonialism, focusing on investments in renewable energy technologies and green resources in developing countries. Drawing on existing literature, reports, and case studies to analyze the social and environmental impacts of green policy investments in historically colonized countries, the research synthesizes and critically assesses available information to provide insights into the consequences of such investments and their implications for marginalized communities. The analysis reveals that the pursuit of green policy solutions in Europe and the United States can inadvertently perpetuate a new form of colonialism toward historically disadvantaged countries. Investments in renewable energy and green resources may lead to social and environmental injustices, including land grabbing, displacement, environmental degradation, and human rights violations. This entry contributes to an understanding of the potential negative impacts of right-wing populism-driven environmental policies on historically colonized nations. It highlights the importance of addressing social and environmental injustices and provides insights into the conflicts of interest between private developers, investors, and marginalized communities. The study calls for balanced and fair analysis and emphasizes the necessity of future research to mitigate the negative consequences and promote sustainable and socially just environmental policies.