Ideological Agendas and Careerism Undermining Scholarly Integrity: Case Study # 1: Dr Douglas C. Youvan

Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus

Jumping on an antifa is an easy way to advance an academic career, because scholarly standards are held in abeyance, and deemed unnecessary. Presently I have complaints pending against: two peer-reviewed papers, one book from a university press, and an Australian university doctoral dissertation by a woman who now postures as an expert on “national security” and the “threat of the far right.” Others, better positioned than me, have exposed the appalling state of so-called scholarship, particularly in the peer-review process.[1]

Douglas C. Youvan

While the above complaints have been pending, there is a relatively minor example, which nonetheless illustrates the blasé attitude towards accuracy of research when dealing with the demonized “far right.” This is Dr Douglas C. Youvan, a former MIT professor who for reasons unclear strayed from his professional disciplines to produce a self-published article, masquerading as a research paper, on the influence of “far right” authors on women in the occult. Apparently, I have such an influence, along with Guénon, Evola, et al.[2]

I gave Dr Youvan the opportunity to reply; I gave him the opportunity to revise his article by giving him the correct information. He chose not to respond. If I make an error of fact in a paper, article, or book, I want to be told about it. If I am wrong about something, I change or adapt my opinion. If research is not subject to revision, it is not scholarship but dogma.

Despite what Dr Youvan promises in the title, he presents very few specifics, utilizing rhetoric to enable his article to run to 26 pages. I wrote to Dr Youvan:

26 June 2026

Dear Dr Youvan

I have just come upon by chance your essay entitled “Women of the Radical Fringe: Exploring the Lives and Philosophies of Modern Female Esoteric Extremists”, (2024) in which you state of me on p. 14:

“Kerry Bolton, an occult writer and political activist from New Zealand, has been involved in various far-right and neo-pagan movements, combining esoteric spirituality with racial nationalism. While not exclusively female focused, Bolton’s writings have influenced women within these movements who are drawn to his blend of mysticism, nationalism, and traditionalist philosophy. His works often explore the connections between occultism, spiritual warfare, and political struggle, themes that resonate with those seeking a deeper, esoteric justification for their far-right beliefs.”

I am absolutely bewildered by this description. I would be interested if you could provide me with a single instance of this alleged influence.

Secondly, the only work you cite by me is “Revolution from Above,”[3] which you claim is subtitled:

“Occult, Elite, and Radical Thought in Modern Politics.”

The book has never borne such a subtitle, nor does any such phrase appear in the book, which is not at all about the “occult.” The actual subtitle is, remains and always has been: “Manufacturing ‘Dissent’ in the New World Order.”

It seems that you have contrived a subtitle to make your only reference credited to me appear to conform with the theme of your essay. You describe the book thus:

“This book explores the intersections of occultism, elite rule, and far right ideology, analyzing how these ideas persist in contemporary politics.”

I suggest that you have not read the book, and that you do not have the foggiest notion as to what it is about. It seems a tad dishonest for you to cite the book in this manner, in order to ascribe to me associations that I do not have.

It is certainly not the only time that I have been subjected to utter bilge by supposed “scholars” and “academics,” indicative of the corruption, dishonesty and incompetence that obviously permeates academia, especially in the West.

In fact I did write a book on such topics, published in 2017, “The Occult and Subversive Movements,”[4] with brief forewords by professors Richard Spence and Mark Mirabello, notable authorities on the subject, and genuine scholars. The book is largely on the role of Freemasonry, and its aim is to expose, not champion, the occult influences in politics.

Please consider this an “open letter”. I look forward to your reply.

K R Bolton ThD

With a lack of response, I wrote to Dr Youvan on July 3:

Dear Dr Youvan

A response would be appreciated. Do you intend making corrections to your paper in regard to the above, in the interests of scholarship?

Thank you for your consideration

K R Bolton

It could be that Dr Youvan is busy, away from his email, or whatever, in which case I will thankfully accept forthcoming corrections from him. As it stands however, Dr Youvan is undermining his integrity by jumping on the antifa bandwagon and presenting himself as a researcher on the “extreme right.” Although a minor example, this is odder than usual because Dr Youvan is already long-established as a biophysicist and mathematician, where precision and high intelligence are required, as distinct from the Humanities “disciplines” that are the usual abodes of antifa “scholars” wanting easy options for academic notability. If accuracy of research was important to him, he would surely want to correct his “errors.” If not, what then are we to make of his enormous number of research papers in the physical sciences?[5]

[1] H Pluckrose, J Lindsay, “How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity―and Why This Harms Everybody” (Pitchstone Publishing, 2020), https://cynicaltheories.com/

“Science reporter spoofs hundreds of open access journals with fake papers,” Retraction Watch, https://retractionwatch.com/2013/10/03/science-reporter-spoofs-hundreds-of-journals-with-a-fake-paper/

[2] Douglas C. Youvan, “Women of the Radical Fringe: Exporting the Lives and Philosophies of Modern Female Esoteric Extremists” (2024),

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383666164_Women_of_the_Radical_Fringe_Exploring_the_Lives_and_Philosophies_of_Modern_Female_Esoteric_Extremists

[3] K R Bolton, Revolution from Above (Arktos Media Ltd., 2011).

[4] K R Bolton, The Occult and Subversive Movements (Londin: Black House Publishing, 2017).

[5] Douglas C Youvan, ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Douglas-Youvan