Curtis Yarvin boldly positions himself as a contemporary Aristotle, lacking any sense of modesty. The 51-year-old blogger, software engineer, and proponent of the “Dark Enlightenment” has been noted in interviews with The New York Times on January 18 and Le Grand Continent journal on April 5 for having the attention of influential figures such as billionaire Elon Musk, US Vice President JD Vance, and various advisors from the Trump administration. However, in contrast to the ancient philosopher, Yarvin is not a skeptic. He has criticized democracies, which he argues are riddled with inefficiency, and advocates for a form of governance resembling a “monarchy” led by a “CEO,” which he refers to as an “American Caesar.”
See more: Diplomacy: Dialoguing with Trump.
While Yarvin may be considered a fringe thinker, his views resonate with a growing sentiment in parts of the West: the perception that the state is ineffective. In France, this notion aligns with a rising trust in corporations, which are increasingly viewed as political actors in areas such as employment, consumer purchasing power, environmental issues, and combating discrimination. “The French feel vulnerable. Less than half believe the president can effect change in their lives, while 52% have faith in the capabilities of businesses,” stated Bernard Sananès, president of the Elabe polling institute, referencing a November 2024 survey of 10,000 participants. “If only France were managed like a business,” mused the CEO of a leading French firm to a prominent member of Emmanuel Macron’s team, envisioning how he would apply corporate strategies to address the public deficit.
The current political environment in France appears to be conducive for a prominent business figure to emerge on the national scene. Voter fatigue with existing leaders is palpable. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right party and previously considered a frontrunner for the 2027 presidential election, may be unable to participate due to her conviction for misappropriating public funds. “Previously, the political parties had a firm grip on the system; now, they have disintegrated,” remarked essayist Alain Minc. The surprising ascent of Macron to the pinnacle of power in 2017 has motivated the most visionary minds.
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