Collaboration between CAPAS and HCA “Be Prepared - Doomsday Prepping in the United States”

The event will feature the presentation of the book “Be Prepared: Doomsday Prepping in the United States” by authors and former CAPAS fellows Robert E. Kirsch (Arizona State University) and Emily Ray (Sonoma State University). The book was part of the research project during their fellowship at CAPAS and delves into the cultural and political dimensions of the survivalist movement in the United States, exploring how prepping is deeply interwoven into the nation’s history and social fabric.

Kirsch and Ray trace the origins and development of doomsday prepping, from the rise of the Boy Scouts and Cold War nuclear anxieties to the current-day dreams of Silicon Valley elites. They introduce the concept of “bunkerization”, which describes the prioritization of individual security and survival as organizing principles in society - a powerful metaphor for contemporary societal shifts toward individualism and away from collective problem-solving. The book also examines the broader implications of prepping for liberal democracy, including its intersections with white supremacy, neoliberalism, and antidemocratic tendencies, while offering insights into alternative, collective approaches to shared challenges.