Are we witnessing the end of left-wing utopias?
Things aren’t exactly great right now. Climate change is becoming increasingly catastrophic, right-wing politics and national isolationism are sweeping the globe – and many people have come to terms with this. Who cares, as long as you’re not (yet) drowning yourself? Meanwhile, social standards are being scrapped and gender-neutral language seems to be a greater threat to many than the end of democracy. At the same time, war has become socially acceptable for many, and terrorist massacres for some. Authoritarian isolationism and violence are triumphing over reason and solidarity – Trump’s election victory is a particularly glaring symbol of this. We are not only experiencing a historic change, but also a social and political regression. And as if that weren’t bad enough, something that was very present in other historic upheavals is missing: a relevant left-wing utopia and movement. In Germany, Europe and the world, this exists only in exceptional cases – and is hardly strong enough to change conditions. The end of the world is closer than the end of capitalism.
Until recently, things were different. »Another world is possible« was the slogan of global protests against neoliberal globalisation in the 2010s. Here, a genuine left-wing utopia was on the table: this world could be made just. In keeping with this, there has indeed been social and political progress in recent decades. There was sensitivity to climate change and equality, there were policies against racism and for global justice. Obviously, this was neither comprehensive nor sufficient – but it was better than much of what the 20th century had to offer.
But today, mostly a worse world seems possible. Even liberals and conservatives, who just a few years ago prevailed against left-wing and solidarity-based solutions to the crisis, are now threatened by the right. No future starts today? Of course, we do not accept that. We are fighting against it. But actually, we want more than just to prevent a worse world. We want a better world.
Everything could be good
The better world would still be possible! The conditions for this are even more favourable than ever before. Never before have there been so many achievements and so much experience to learn from. People are not only aware of the horrors of war, the effects of climate change and the consequences of fascism – they also know about diplomacy and climate protection, education and solidarity. People can reach Mars and generate nuclear fusion. They can cure cancer, treat trauma and plan the implementation of climate-neutral cities in global video conferences with hundreds of experts. Artificial intelligence can prevent crop failures and overcome language barriers. Humanity has seen that US presidents don’t have to be white and that women in leadership positions don’t make any more mistakes than men. Instagram and Netflix allow us to experience other realities of life around the world – whether in the rainforest, in slums, in megacities or in Osnabrück. Not to mention that the means to feed everyone have long been available. Or to achieve climate neutrality. This world could be bursting with possibilities. A good life for everyone would be possible.
Unfortunately, it sucks
But why then is this better world not coming about? Why are we experiencing this insane regression despite enormous progress? We can think of several reasons for this: for example, the fear of individuals losing their privileges. But in particular, we believe that this progress itself contains the seeds of regression.
After all, progress usually follows the way the world works. And that’s not about a good life for everyone. It’s about functioning under the conditions of capitalism and nations. A healthcare system, for example, that connects all patients worldwide with the right experts and provides them with the best possible diagnosis and treatment quickly and free of charge – in principle, this would be possible. The means are there. The utopia is within reach. But it would completely turn the way pharmaceutical companies and national healthcare systems function upside down.
Because, of course, companies in this world have to make a profit. After all, they have to pay their employees and drive up share prices in order to remain competitive. Countries are much more interested in the health of their citizens than in the health of people elsewhere in the world. Even ordinary people would have to give up many certainties and privileges on the path to a health utopia. And that will be difficult – after all, they grew up with the way the world works. Just look at the opposition that already exists to a citizens‘ insurance scheme in Germany or health insurance in the USA. And then even more resources are to be shared with even more people? Bye-bye, health utopia.
The fact that progress does not lead to better conditions is not only due to individual malice. It is due to the way this world thinks and acts. And that is the logic of exploitation and competition, of privileges and exclusion.
Home advantage for assholes
What makes matters worse is that the right wing simply has to reinforce the fears that people in this world already have. For example, the fear of having to give up something (even if only seemingly) in the struggle for advantages.
The right-wing battle cry » Us first « serves the way this world works quite well – as does the need to shift the blame for the supposed and actual problems of this complicated world onto scapegoats. » The others1 are to blame « is therefore another slogan of the right wing that works brutally well. The right wing and fundamentalists only need to intensify the logic of exclusion and competition. They have a home advantage in this bad world.
Hurray, the world is coming to an end
History is being made
So does that mean nothing matters anymore? Hurray, the world is coming to an end? Not at all, because there is still some good news: All of this, all of the progress, all of the unfulfilled utopias – all of this was created by people. That means it can also be changed by people. Because as bad as it may seem, neither the laws of nature nor gods prevent us from making this world a better place. What stands in the way is »only« the thinking and actions of people in a world full of boundaries, profit and inequality. So we have to fight for people’s minds.
Again and again, there are opportunities to do so. The health utopia described above, for example, hardly fits into this world, but with the coronavirus pandemic, many certainties for pharmaceutical companies and states were suddenly suspended. If a global left had been stronger, perhaps the health utopia would have been realised? In any case, history was suddenly open. And that is exactly what is happening constantly, in large and small matters.
And no, this world should not burn and perish so that it can become better. There are already enough wishes for destruction elsewhere. We are not dystopian. We are utopian, and we are very practical: We want to finally use the enormous achievements of this world for the happiness of all people. And what achievements would be possible if progress were freed from the sad way this world works and actually revolved around a good life for everyone…
Still a world to win
And more good news: With left-wing utopias, we have infinitely more to offer than all the right-wing assholes in the world put together. Because they want hatred and exclusion, thus never-ending violence. We want a good life for everyone. An end to violence.
And with that, we do not only have the more social and sustainable answer to the problems of our time, but also the much, much more pleasant one. Is your neighbour dissatisfied with the way things are? Then, for a change, don’t talk about his fear of migrants and heating laws. Talk about how this world could have long since guaranteed a good life for everyone. And that includes him: for his healthcare, for a future worth living for his children, and for whatever remains of his stunted ideas of charity or solidarity. All that is not yet lost.
No, we are not witnessing the end of left-wing utopias. We are witnessing their necessity. It is up to us to show people that they are feasible. Because they still have a world to win.
- Optionally: migrants, queer and/or Jewish people, left-wingers, progressive climate politicians, democrats, … ↩︎
