Crypto-prophets: Hypermasculinity and the New Right in the Age of Post-politics

• Andrea G. Galarreta and Paula C. Chang explore the rise of 'crypto-prophets'—figures who disseminate messianic, exclusionary masculine discourse in their new book, Criptoprofetas. Hipermasculinidad y nueva derecha.
• The authors identify the collapse of institutional trust and the perceived failure of the welfare state as the catalysts for a resurgence in rigid, religious-coded masculinity among young men.

The Landscape of Post-politics

• Contemporary political discourse has migrated from traditional structures to social media, where algorithms govern information flow and exacerbate polarization.
• The term 'post-politics' denotes a state where the democratic model is viewed as unchangeable, leading to a loss of the ability to imagine alternative futures. Memes have replaced political programs, commodifying attention.
• While AI introduces profound epistemic uncertainty and is currently controlled by tech oligarchs, the authors argue it should be reclaimed as a tool for human-centered societal goals rather than simply condemned.

The Logic of Crypto-prophets

• 'Crypto-prophets' are defined not just as crypto-traders, but as online gurus who preach a blend of hyper-individualistic 'entrepreneurship' and exclusionary social values.
• These figures romanticize figures like Trump or Musk, projecting a morality of 'winning' that relies on the intense hatred of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and the poor to maintain communal cohesion.
• This reaction is framed as a failure of class consciousness; rather than critiquing the systemic causes of their precarious existence, many young men turn to these hypermasculine, competitive identities to assert power.

Rethinking Care and Masculinity

• The authors critique modern concepts of 'self-care'—often reduced to skincare routines and consumerism—as forms of 'hygienic' social exclusion that avoid the messiness of community.
• They propose a subversion of hypermasculinity by embracing 'impotence' or vulnerability. Moving away from the constant performance of strength—physical or erectile—could allow for more habitable models of masculinity.
• Ultimately, they advocate for a politics of 'getting messy'—engaging in dialogue with those who think differently, accepting uncertainty, and recognizing ourselves as part of a historical evolution rather than at the final stage of civilization.