October 6, 2026
Rightwing ‘great replacement’ fears mask tech's real great replacement | Jason Stanley
Briefing Summary:
Jason Stanley argues that the rightwing "great replacement" theory, which claims that white populations are being replaced by non-white immigrants, serves as a distraction from a more pressing issue: the replacement of human labor by artificial intelligence (AI). He highlights how far-right parties, like Germany's AfD, use this theory to justify policies that prioritize technological advancement over immigration, effectively promoting a real "great replacement" of human workers with AI. This shift poses a significant threat to all workers, as it diverts attention from the existential risks posed by AI and the tech elite's agenda to prioritize AI over human welfare.
Stoic Response
Understanding the Chief Tension
In Jason Stanley's article, the primary tension lies in the juxtaposition of the fabricated "great replacement" theory, which incites racial fear, against the genuine existential threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI) replacing human labor. Stanley asserts that the far-right's focus on racial demographics distracts from the more pressing issue: “the replacement of humanity with artificial intelligence.” This misdirection not only fuels divisive rhetoric but also obscures the real dangers of technological advancement that threatens all workers, regardless of race.
Acknowledge What You Can Control
As Stoics, we must recognize the dichotomy of control. We cannot control the narratives spun by political factions or the rapid advancement of AI. However, we can control our responses and actions. Focus on what is within your purview: your thoughts, your values, and your choices. Engage critically with the information presented to you, and do not allow fear to dictate your beliefs or actions.
Cultivate Inner Resilience
In the face of societal distractions and fears, cultivate inner resilience. Arm yourself with knowledge and understanding. Reflect upon the words of Marcus Aurelius: “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” Use this strength to engage in constructive dialogue about the real implications of AI and advocate for ethical considerations in technological advancement. Your voice can contribute to a more informed society.
Act with Purpose
Take purposeful action in your community. Support initiatives that promote ethical AI development and advocate for policies that protect human labor. Engage in discussions that redirect the focus from divisive narratives to the collective challenges posed by technological change. Remember, as Marcus Aurelius advised, “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” Lead by example, demonstrating the principles of Stoicism in your daily life.
Embrace Collective Responsibility
Finally, recognize that while the threat of AI is significant, it is a collective challenge that requires collective action. Work alongside others who share your concerns. Join or create groups that promote awareness about the implications of AI and advocate for human-centric policies. As Marcus Aurelius reminds us, “What is not good for the hive is not good for the bee.” The welfare of humanity must remain at the forefront of technological progress, ensuring that we harness AI as a tool for enhancement rather than a replacement.
Article Rewritten Through Stoic Lens
The Great Replacement: A Stoic Perspective
Understanding the Dichotomy of Control
Dear students, let us reflect on the nature of our concerns regarding the world. In every situation, we must discern what lies within our control and what does not. The discourse surrounding the so-called "great replacement" theory serves as a prime example of this principle.
External Events: A Distraction from Inner Work
Jason Stanley highlights that the fear of a demographic shift—where white populations feel threatened by non-white immigrants—diverts our attention from a more pressing concern: the replacement of human labor by artificial intelligence (AI). Here, we must ask ourselves: can we control the narratives spun by politicians and media? No. But we can control our responses to these narratives.
Opportunity for Discipline: Instead of succumbing to fear, let us cultivate a disciplined mind that focuses on what we can influence—our own actions and judgments.
Judgment: The Real Threat
Stanley argues that while the far-right exploits fears of demographic change, the real threat lies in the technological advancements that replace human workers with AI. This is a moment for us to exercise our judgment.
Recognizing True Risks
We must recognize that the panic surrounding demographic shifts is a distraction from the existential risks posed by AI. Here lies an opportunity for us to refine our judgment.
Opportunity for Right Action: Rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric, we can choose to advocate for policies that prioritize human welfare in the face of technological change. This is our sphere of influence.
The Role of the Elite: A Lesson in Perspective
Stanley points out that the global elite, rather than a shadowy cabal of liberals or immigrants, are the ones engineering this "great replacement" of humanity with machines. This realization offers us a chance to reassess our perspective.
Understanding the True Nature of Power
The fear of losing cultural dominance blinds us to the more profound threat of losing our very humanity to AI. In this, we find a crucial lesson: the power of perception shapes our reality.
Opportunity for Inner Strength: Let us cultivate inner strength by focusing on our values and principles, rather than being swayed by external fears.
Transhumanism and AI Successionism: A Call to Action
The rise of transhumanism and AI successionism presents a philosophical challenge. These ideologies suggest that humanity may be replaced or augmented by technology, raising questions about our moral priorities.
Moral Responsibility in the Face of Change
As we navigate these complex ideas, we must remember our moral responsibility. The fear of demographic replacement should not overshadow our duty to ensure that technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
Opportunity for Ethical Leadership: We can choose to lead discussions about the ethical implications of AI, advocating for a future where human welfare is paramount.
Conclusion: Embracing Stoic Principles
In conclusion, let us embrace the Stoic principles that guide us through these tumultuous times. Recognize what is within your control, exercise sound judgment, and focus on right action. The distractions of the world may be many, but our path remains clear: to cultivate virtue and wisdom in the face of adversity.
By practicing these principles, we not only navigate the complexities of our world but also contribute to a more just and humane society. Let us remain vigilant, not in fear, but in strength and purpose.
Source Body Text
Across the world, “great replacement” theory has been employed again and again as the political foundation for fascism. Some of its fundamental tenets, such as the view that “whites are a dying minority”, have been amplified by tech billionaires and their platforms. According to the version of this theory most employed in Europe and the United States, white replacement theory, white populations are being “replaced” by non-white populations, a replacement engineered by a shadowy global elite. For example, the need for skilled labor is supposedly being used by global elites as an excuse to bring in non-white immigrants to replace white workers. Great replacement theory – a phenomenon Ibram X Kendi extensively documents in his recent book, Chain of Ideas – is the governing ideology of Europe’s far-right parties. It also serves as a justification for the US’s remorseless and violent politics of mass deportation or “remigration”, the term introduced by the far-right Austrian nationalist Martin Sellner in a 2024 book of that title. While a powerful international far right promotes this theory, a real great replacement is happening: of humanity with artificial intelligence. Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is Europe’s most prominent extreme far-right party, whose central platform is, essentially, remigration. Elon Musk is a vocal supporter of this party, having given a speech remotely at the AfD campaign launch in January 2025, stating: “You have to go all out to convince people to vote for AfD.” AfD’s party program for Saxony-Anhalt explicitly uses the concerns of the fake great replacement theory to justify implementing the real one. Point 28 of its agenda for “Immigration and Remigration” begins: An AfD-led state government will develop a strategy for Saxony-Anhalt focused on technological upgrading, digitalization, and AI. This strategy is intended to help alleviate bottlenecks in the local labor market. Furthermore, it aims to avoid the immigration of skilled workers from culturally dissimilar backgrounds. AfD proposes “financial support for technological upgrading, digitalization, and the use of AI by small and medium sized enterprises through the establishment of a dedicated funding program” as well as other kinds of support for companies to adopt AI. Again, this is not listed as part of AfD’s economic program – that is another section. Replacement of human jobs by AI is rather part of its immigration program – that is, its program motivated specifically by its central ideology of great replacement theory. Palantir’s multibillionaire CEO, Alex Karp, while rejecting AfD’s Russia-friendly politics, has argued that AI will make mass migration obsolete, by obviating the need for skilled immigration into western countries. At the same time as the global far right is promoting fear about non-white populations replacing white populations, tech companies are engineering the mass replacement of humanity by AI. The panic about the replacement of white populations by non-white populations distracts attention from this real great replacement. The global elite are in fact in a conspiracy to replace people. But the global elites in this instance are not liberals or Jews or Marxists or Islamists – they are the heads of giant companies. And their productions threaten not the replacement of white people by non-white people – they threaten to replace all people with AI agents. On 18 April, Palantir posted a 22-point summary of Alex Karp and Nicholas Zamiski’s book The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West. Point 21 was: Some cultures have produced vital advances; others remain dysfunctional and regressive. All cultures are now equal. Criticism and value judgments are forbidden. Yet this new dogma glosses over the fact that certain cultures and indeed subcultures … have produced wonders. Others have proven middling, and worse, regressive and harmful. According to this ideology, what makes for a superior culture are the skills and crafts it nurtures, and the productions (the “wonders”) that are the result of these skills. If the goals of its creators are met, AI will replace human skills, and with it, human skilled production – indeed, even human cognitive skill by the cognitive labor of AI agents. And if you are in the game of ranking cultures, and in the business of replacing human production with AI production, you are going to logically end up with the view that humanity itself should ultimately be discarded. Transhumanism is the view, popular among the Silicon Valley tech elite, that humans can be technologically augmented to give rise to a superior species, the “transhuman” (Elon Musk’s company Neuralink is devoted to merging humanity with AI). Transhumanism can be viewed as a contemporary version of eugenics, the project of using genetics and selective breeding to engineer supposedly “superior” humans, an endeavor central to Nazism. But I believe almost as popular as transhumanism among the Silicon Valley elite is AI successionism – the view that humans should give way to AI agents. With that handover, the center of moral concern should also change, from human welfare to the welfare of AI agents. It is not hard to imagine the creators of this new species wanting to survive in remote bunkers or outer space, with the knowledge that they have, like gods, been the agents of such a succession. The fear that white workers will be replaced by non-white workers is masking the reality that all workers are being replaced by non-human workers. Similarly, the fear of the replacement of European civilization by foreign civilization is masking the threat of the replacement of all human civilization with an artificially designed one. The global promotion of the fascist great replacement theory, the replacement of white workers by non-white workers, and the supposed displacement of “white civilization” is nothing other than a distraction from the real threat of a genuine great replacement, of humans by AI agents. Jason Stanley is the Bissell-Heyd chair of American studies at the Munk School at the University of Toronto. He is the author of Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future