White nationalism and GOP climate obstruction

In this talk, Laura Pulido considers the relationship between U.S. white nationalism and the Republican Party’s (GOP) record of climate obstruction.

Though the fossil fuel industry’s campaign of disinformation has been well-documented, less understood are the politicians who do its bidding. While many assume the state is simply implementing the desires of the fossil fuel industry, what is called, regulatory capture, this assumes a nonracial state. Laura argues that regulatory capture does not fully explain the current GOP’s climate obstruction. Instead, she suggests that white nationalism has contributed to this process.

By focusing on three historical moments: the Tea Party movement (2009-15), the Trump Presidency (2015-19), and the War on Wokeness (2021-present), Laura Pulido shows how white nationalism supports climate obstruction.

Meet our speaker and chair

Laura Pulido is Professor and Head of Ethnic Studies and Professor of Geography at the University of Oregon. Professor Pulido is also Centennial Professor at the Department of Geography and Environment, LSE and LSE's Phelan United States Centre.

Hyun Bang Shin is Professor of Geography and Urban Studies and Head of Department at the Department of Geography and Environment, LSE.

More about this event

This event is the inaugural lecture in the Department of Geography and Environment's new .

The Department of Geography and Environment (@LSEGeography) is a centre of international academic excellence in economic, urban and development geography, environmental social science and climate change.

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Podcast & slides

A podcast of this event is available to download here.

A video of the slides is available here.

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LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.