Parasites, Heroes, and Ordinary Souls: Nietzsche’s Politics from the Nineteenth Century to Neoliberalism

Abstract Nietzsche’s political reception appears at present to be undergoing a paradigm shift. Recent publications rightly call into question established readings which present Nietzsche as an apolitical, liberal, or leftist thinker, instead placing him on the rightward reaches of the political spectrum. Such reinterpretations often, as in the cases of Daniel Tutt and William Banks, stem from a Lukácsian perspective, which sees Nietzsche as both militantly opposed to socialism and implicitly affirmative of capitalism. Both authors under review suggest a particularly strong connection between Nietzsche and contemporary neoliberalism. I challenge this account, arguing that Nietzsche should be understood as an anti-capitalist thinker, a recognition which reaffirms rather than questioning his position on the nineteenth-century radical right. Yet we should also resist the temptation to group thinkers under overgeneralized labels. On further investigation, such banners as “aristocratic radicalism” are seen to blunt the specificities of individual theorists. Ultimately, if he and his politics are to be properly understood, Nietzsche should be read on his own terms, ensuring that our methodological choices or personal commitments do not distort his intentions.