Capital, networks and ideas: How philanthropy sustains right-wing populism in Canada

The compounding economic and ecological crises of neoliberal capitalism have been met in recent years by a growing global tide of right-wing populism. This paper examines the overlooked role of philanthropic foundations in sustaining right-wing populist ecosystems. Focusing on the Canadian context, we use social network analysis to map financial flows and leadership connections between philanthropic foundations and right-wing charities. Our study reveals six distinct communities that materially and ideologically co-constitute the ecosystem of right-wing populism in Canada. While the existing literature highlights philanthropy’s role in legitimizing neoliberalism, our findings show philanthropy’s malleability in sustaining capital accumulation in a post-neoliberal moment – specifically, through promulgating nativist, anti-immigrant, anti-gender, pro-extractivist, and other right-leaning politics in response to legitimate economic and ecological anxieties.