Climate obstruction and nationalism: a conceptual map

Nationalism is notoriously an ideology that can fit opposite ideological and political necessities. Since 2020, an emerging literature exploring nationalism’s connections with climate change has developed. Yet, nationalism’s role in the decisive practice of climate obstruction has hitherto not been conceptually mapped. This integrative review inductively analyses various forms of nationalism, focusing on each form’s role in climate obstruction and propensity to ignore or exacerbate the climate crisis. It identifies four major types of nationalism—resource nationalism, energy nationalism, techno-nationalism, and fossil fascism—exploring the contrasting, often complementary, climate strategies nationalism employs. This typology delineates how nationalism (and its associated political dynamics) can obscure, divert attention from, delay, and undermine effective political decision-making at a historical moment requiring urgent collective action and rapid sustainability transitions.