Oh boy. Here I go again getting myself into hot waters. Is science fiction inherently left-leaning? No matter the answer, this post will get heated comments just for posing the question.
A few weeks ago, a post circulated on Threads asking, “Can a right-leaning science fiction story even exist?” The underlying implication of the question’s phrasing was that sci-fi is too progressist to be appropriated in any conservative discourse. Curiously, this was the second time I saw this conjecture this year, coming from widely different circles. So I thought it would be a good idea to address it here.
The short answer to the inquiry is yes, right-leaning sci-fi exists.
Science fiction is NOT intrinsically leftist.
But I do love the questioning. It gives me an opportunity to discuss science and fiction in a political and social context.
Shall we? This is The (Political) Science of Fiction.
Sci-fi left and right
The Left and Right labels to address political biases first appeared in the National Assembly during the French Revolution. It respectively designated supporters of the revolution, sitting on the left, and opposition, favoring the Ancien Régime, gathered at the right of the president’s stand.
Well, we can always blame the French for the state of modern society.
The terminology survived, even though its meaning changed multiple times over the centuries. Still, the polarization into Left and Right, situation and opposition, has been a staple in politics for centuries. In the U.S., for example, the two-party system has been institutionalized since the inception of this country’s democratic history.
Perhaps for this reason, people tend to ignore the fact that the political spectrum of a population is not binary. And yet, even countries with multi-party systems are being pushed toward a polarization that isn’t healthy.
Anyway, that’s not what I want to discuss today. To address the political inclination of the sci-fi genre, it is necessary to identify the most common characteristics associated with today’s understanding of Left and Right.
Disclaimer: I’ll keep it broad, and I know many will disagree with me. And rightfully so! Any definition I give will be a strawman, after all. But, for our purposes, this will do.
In general, the Left is more progressive, more engaged with social issues, and more defensor of the individual right to express their own identities safely. The Right is more conservative, more engaged with economic affairs, and more defensor of the right to preserve their own culture safely.
These traits, although not necessarily opposite, can be contrasting. And each of these can lead to extremism if inflated to higher levels.
Science fiction has been a tool to denounce the dangers of extremism: totalitarian or absolutist regimes; autocracies, theocracies, or technocracies; unfiltered free speech or total surveillance and monitoring. It doesn’t have to do with the “side” of the spectrum but about the dangers of corruption or intolerance.
To exemplify my point, one of the most beloved subgenres of science fiction is Military Sci-Fi. Many of these stories have an outdated view of society and lean toward conservatism, not to mention imperialism. Others deal with the corruption of the military institutions, presenting a dystopic scenario in which the military is overpowered. And I wouldn’t categorize these as left-leaning.
And, yes, sci-fi can also be used to explore the limits of tolerance. Should we be tolerant of intolerant people without becoming intolerant ourselves? This paradox seems to be at the core of political conflicts today.
Why does sci-fi feel leftist?
For one, the entertainment industry has always been at the vanguard of societal changes, be it for genuine reasons or shock value. And loud complaints about these tendencies add to the perception that every single piece of art is leftist.
Also, there’s more to science fiction than condemning extremism. Showcasing possibilities is another way to insert politics into the story. In these cases, it’s easier to identify a political bias, and it can be comical when people with opposite views try to twist the message.
We’ve witnessed people enraged by the wokeness of Sandman’s adaptation without clearly reading the source material. And the Fox News presenter accusing Star Wars of being too woke and declaring that this is why she was a Trekkie was hilarious.
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I am a historian of 20th-century physics. Personally, I am a liberal***. But the past is not.
In my research, it is important to acknowledge systemic and individual biases to create a coherent and consistent narrative of the past based on recorded data. One must be careful not to fall into anachronism when studying a historical context. The role of a historian is to understand, not to judge.
However, my moderate discourse and diplomatic manners are often mistaken for conservatism, conformism, or cowardness. Truth is, although I’m trained to understand the past, I’m not sure how to navigate in such a politically polarized society. So I stand back and observe, trying to learn as much as possible.
That’s it for today folks.
I’m concerned about asking you folks to leave a comment. Talking politics attracts trolls. But do tell me if you agree or disagree with me.
See you next post!
Ra.
***It is weird to use this word because, in Portuguese, it denotes a different political view.
Carla Ra is a scientist by day, sci-fi writer by night.
You can check out her anthology ARTIFICIAL REBELLION here.
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