Crisis on a very high level
Since a long time, there’s a lot of talk in the media about crises or even about a polycrisis, something I can’t really comprehend in the given way. My opinion on this is as follows: due to all the scientific, technological and social developments, the part of mankind Europeans belong to (the so-called first world) has reached a high and unprecedented standard of living. We hold an unprecedented and very high quality of life, despite all problems and justified criticisms.
To this, Stephen Pinker has shown in his book “Enlightenment now” in a very detailed manner, that, globally speaking, almost all areas and parameters relevant for human life have strongly improved over the long run (1).
Of course, there is a huge number of problems, which I don’t want to mention here, they are well known. The role of the media must also be discussed more strongly, because their focus on problematic situations and topics is strongly (and negatively) influencing public perception.
My approach
My starting point is to clearly convey to the population the high level we are living on in Germany and Europe and thus create a basically positive approach.
We do possess a huge potential for technical, social and societal enhancement, and this potential needs to be raised. This enhancement may partly be disrupting, and question existing orders and power structures.
One important aspect is the efficiency of political measures. As discussed for example in the article “Don’t freeze” („Nur nicht erstarren“, DIE ZEIT, 29.08.2024), it is important, that citizens are able to perceive the efficiency of their political actions.
The political party’s work is oriented according to the party’s goals, but it must also be measured concerning its efficiency and thus the capability to find compromises and solutions.
Material aspects vs. immaterial aspects
Another important aspect is the fact that nowadays material things are way more in focus within the public discourse than immaterial things. This is due to many different causes.
On the one hand, in the Brechtian sense, material things are more important than the immaterial (food vs. morality). Insofar this is a natural tendency. And for practical reasons material things are easier to be commercialized than immaterial ones.
On the other hand, due to the societal revolutions of the 20th century, the institutions traditionally providing meaning like religions have fallen behind. Today, there are many “providers” of meaning, but they have a hard time to be broadly perceived.
Elementary particles
Our societies have become much more heterogeneous in the last decades. Due to the technical and sociological changes and enhancements, we all have many more possibilities for an individual way of life.
Thus, by force, there are fewer linking elements inside society, because the citizen’s real lives are more and more different. This can also be seen inside one’s own family or circle of friends, and as such isn’t something negative.
But this makes it more difficult to generate cohesion in society. Contemporary political concepts need to take this into account.