The Anthropocene as an Emotional Regime in the Making: Mobilizations of Hope in Ecomodernism, Eco-Marxism, and New Materialism

The concept of the Anthropocene has stirred many emotions. From technologically infused optimism, to nostalgic sadness and grief over times lost, and cries of despair from those urging us to learn how to “die in the Anthropocene”. In this paper, I zoom in on the formulation of hope in three dominant Anthropocene narratives (ecomodernism, eco-Marxism, and new materialism), to explore the role of emotions in processes of politicization. Critical scholars have long argued that environmental discourses are key carriers of post-politics, and by focusing explicitly on the role of emotions in these processes, this article contributes to formulating a more politicized and democratic discourse on the Anthropocene. My analysis shows that although hope operates as a key emotion in each narrative, it takes vastly different forms, thus opening up different political possibilities. Ecomodernists, I argue, present a passive hope that is over-inclusive, consequently failing to articulate a political opponent. Eco-Marxists present an active hope based on a clear political us/them divide, but by emphasizing future goods, hope may turn into certainty. New materialists articulate a version of radical hope that can contribute to the collectivization of hope. However, by not positioning a political subject of hope, the politicizing potential of the narrative becomes limited. These results speaks both to the discussion on the role of emotions in post-political environmentalism, as well as to the debate over the proper articulation of the Anthropocene. It highlights some of the emotional consequences of adopting one narrative over another, as well as the importance of a nuanced understanding of emotions when studying their political potential.