Can we concieve of progress without the continuation of our present day consumer’s slavery?

Human ignorance cannot rule again
In our time many people sense that the world is rapidly moving towards decisive crossroads. Much of what our history has been about is in the balance. Ever since the Dark Ages we have progressively strived for a world that is open to invention, development, rationalism, individual freedom and ultimately to welfare for all. The forces of darkness and authoritarian rule did not readily surrender, nor have they totally vanished, but in our Western civilization we have caged them to such extent that they can never successfully embark on a new all out crusade or succeed in ignorance and human submission to rule again. Well, that is a positive outcome isn’t it? But is is true? I look at our world, and at the present day junction of history, in a slightly different perspective.

Yet we live in slavery
First of all, human submission has all but vanished. In fact, our world is entirely based on submission, be it in a highly successful disguise. Why submit people by force, as was once the case for many people, or entire populations, including the millions of slaves who helped our way towards Western supremcacy, if one can also succeed in submitting people by perpetual seduction? We have learned to percieve our world of material affluence as a world of welfare and freedom for many, but this is only one side of the coin. We have made our world highly dependent too on its perpetuation: on the ongoing cycle of material satisfaction and the subsequent desire for more at an unprecendented massive scale. People are gently urged to buy, and to do so systematically. Economies are rated according to our level of desire and the ‘confidence’ that we will effectively satisfy this desire. I call this consumer slavery.

Our icons do not create a better world
Secondly, we have learned that the state of our material environment is the key yardstick for the success we achieve in our own lives. We belittle material poverty and herald the rich. Those, for instance, who wish for a ‘better world’, are idealists, as are those who pursue ambitions in any other non-material but spiritual or social hemisphere. Idealism doesn’t generate sufficient currency to make us comfortable, does it?

We are driven to satisfy just ourselves
Thirdly, we are driven to pursue material wealth for ourselves, as individuals. There are few if any incentives to share our material wealth with others. But in a world which is bound to face the limits of material wealth as the inevitable consequence of Earth’s total material resources, this is a highly dangerous situation to get into. Especially so, if such pursuits become the key driving force of other, non-Western nations.

Let’s go for the longer term

All of this is in the balance, whether we like it or not. But as I see it, we have great possibilities indeed to make our world a better place, if only we care to share and shift our priorities – perhaps only slightly – to our long term interests, away from our immediate satisfactions.

Political thaw is setting in, but it happens in a void

Both Europe and the United States have experienced a marked increase in the popularity of hard line, rightist policies over the past five years or so. This tide seems to have reached its outer limits. Obviously, the victory in the US Congress Mid Term Elections of the Democrats is one indication of a potential shift to a climate that is more amenable to leftist approaches. In my own country, the upcoming elections (Nov 22) are equally expected to boost the left side of the spectrum, although it remains highly uncertain whether this wil actually constitute a shift of power. In this period too, France is getting prepared for the Presidential election, and so far it seems that candidates on the left side hold the greatest appeal. Germany, as always, continues to keep all tides in a balance.

Where are the new concepts and solutions?

Having said this, I am inclined to take a cautionary view of the developments as they emerge at present. Much of the voting seems to be a vote against (the right) rather than a deliberate vote in favor (of the left). Secondly, it cannot be said that ‘the left’ has produced an articulate and appealing vision, anywhere. It has become abundantly clear that our time is especially barren in terms of (new) concepts and convincing (new) solutions to key problems both in the political scene and at the level of shared, global themes such as our environment and the difficulties of providing the bare necessities for an ever growing world population. So what do we buy, under those conditions, for any political ‘thaw’ or shift to the left? As much as I can see, they will, for the time being, only serve to protract the muddle created by the right, and increase the uneasiness among many – at all sides of the spectrum – as politicians continue to fail to address pressing social and economic issues.

New leadership and courage
One way or the other, the right moment for new leadership has not yet arrived. One cannot conceive of any substantive leadership in a void. There has to be the power of vision, and the power of persuasion, which most likely will only be nourished as the muddle progresses a little further down the slope. When appeasement doesn’t work, nor any retained hawkish policy; when new perpectives emerge, and the old perspectives are finally put to rest.

In my estimate, this is likely to take another few years, three – perhaps five. In the mean time, mediocrity will reign,with just a few flickerings of new light on the horizon. The rest is a matter of courage, and opportunity. There is no reason whatsoever not to take up our courage and grasp opportunity even in the smallest context. Your nor I really need to wait.