Can human beings turn their reality around and build a better society out of the ruins of the pandemic? In an interview for BBC Mundo, Dutch historian Rutger Bregman believes this is the best opportunity to do so.
Bregman’s books, especially “Utopia for Realists,” have been translated into more than 30 languages and have been read by millions of people around the world.
The historian became famous for using history to dismantle the myth of the misanthrope, the idea that, at the first opportunity, human beings demonstrate that they are selfish by nature.
Bregman promotes placing another quality instead as a central value: benevolence or kindness.
The author became an overnight sensation when he told a group of millionaires gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos to “put hypocrisy aside.”
“They flew 1,500 private jets to this meeting to hear David Attenborough talk about how we are destroying the planet,” said Bregman.
The historian added that instead of debating “stupid philanthropy projects,” magnates should instead focus on “the real problem of tax evasion, and how the wealthy are not contributing what they owe.”
Every crisis can be an opportunity for change
“Historians know that crises can be decisive junctures for societies,” Bregman told the BBC.
Speaking for Zoom from his home in the Netherlands, the historian did not sound very optimistic at first.
“It is easy to imagine how the coronavirus crisis can lead us to a dark alley. History tells us that those in power tend to abuse these crises, “he said.
Just look at the 20th century: the burning of the Reichstag headquarters, the German Parliament, in 1933, and the rise of Hitler is one example. And after the attacks on the Twin Towers there were two illegal wars and massive government surveillance operations by citizens. ”
But there are also reasons to maintain hope, since ideas that a few years ago were considered “too radical” are becoming popular.
Bregman refers to ideas like “higher taxes for the wealthy,” or a new “green deal” (green deal) to combat climate change, or a basic universal income to eradicate poverty.
“Five years ago, none of those ideas were on the table,” he said. But now “they are discussed by decision makers around the world.”
End racism, inequality and poverty
Bregman points to a kind of paradox: Often, when things seem worse than ever, it is because they have already begun to improve.
“When you see the outrage at inequality, poverty, racism, it is because you are beginning to see progress.”
Bregman cites the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States and other parts of the world.
“We may think that racism is getting worse, but now we are talking about it more than ever.”
“Racism is deeply rooted in our history,” says the historian.
But seeing that people reject it and denounce it globally “is a reason for hope, since it shows that we can and must change this reality.”
The author applies the same reasoning to tax evasion.
“All the multinationals, all the billionaires who hide their money in tax havens … These are issues that nobody discussed 15 years ago.”
But now more and more people criticize those actions and consider them unacceptable and immoral.
“We talk about this topic more and more and it causes us outrage.”
Who matters in society
For Bregman, one of the most interesting moments of the pandemic occurred when governments drew up “essential worker” lists.
“When you look at these lists you wonder, where are the bankers and the managers of the investment funds?”
Everyone realized that “the workers who really mattered were the garbage collectors, the teachers and the teachers, the nurses and the nurses …”.
“Workers who do not receive the highest wages, or who practice the least prestigious professions, proved to be essential.”
Bregman believes this can be a defining moment for children of an entire generation who still have to choose what to do “when they grow up.”
“We could rethink the value of work. In the 1980s and 1990s, for many young people, success meant working on Wall Street or Silicon Valley.”
But perhaps today’s teens and kids think, “I want to do a job that really makes a difference, I want to contribute something of value to society.”
Fair payment and respect
“We are talking about two things here: the redistribution of respect and the redistribution of income.”
And there is something else: “The idea of a basic universal income, giving each person an income that is sufficient to cover their basic needs for food, shelter and clothing.”
Bregman claims that basic universal income would be an effective way to combat inequality, poverty and job instability.
And that income would also give low-paid essential workers “much more bargaining power” when it comes to striking.
“We know from recent research that in modern economies, about 25% of workers think that their work adds nothing of value.”
Often these people “have fabulous wages and went to the best universities” but still don’t know what the value of their contribution is.
“It is a real waste that we cannot afford to afford. I hope that the coronavirus crisis will also promote changes in that regard.”
Bregman wants people to stop thinking “I’m tired of writing reports that no one is going to read,” and instead say “I could do something valuable with my skills and talents.”
The generation that will change the world
“What we are seeing now is a generational shift,” said Bregman.
Young people today “are the most progressive generation that ever existed”
“These young people are pro-democracy, want change, are aware of the dangers of climate change, and are outraged at the increasing inequality.”
Bregman believes that if only those under 40 were allowed to vote, there would be very different rulers in the world.
“In the UK, Labor would win everywhere. And in the United States, Bernie Sanders would be the most likely candidate to win the presidential election in November.”
“Whether you are left or right, you must accept a reality: this new generation is going to change everything.”
“Survival of the shameless”
Something that drives the young generation, according to Bregman, is the rejection of the current elite and their behavior, which is intolerable to them.
“Elites make the rules for the rest of the world, but those rules don’t apply when it comes to themselves.”
Bregman cited several examples.
“Look at what happened in the UK with senior government adviser Dominic Cummings. He clearly violated the rules of confinement, but did not resign.”
“This is something we could call survival of the shameless.”
The historian affirms that one of the most extraordinary characteristics of human beings is their capacity to feel shame or remorse. “It is very important for society to function.”
“We are one of the few species in the entire animal kingdom that can blush. It is very, very important that we can do so, because this allows us to trust each other and cooperate,” Bregman said.
“But when you think about it, when was the last time someone like Boris Johnson in the UK or Donald Trump in the US blushed or embarrassed about something?”
“I think it is very worrying that we have built these political systems that allow the shameless to survive. We are no longer very efficient in monitoring those in power and holding them accountable for their actions,” Bregman added.
“There is a lot of work to be done in that regard.”
Forget optimism, it’s about hope
If Bregman were to give advice to someone 15 years old, that advice would be: “You don’t have to be optimistic. Optimism is a form of complacency.”
The historian wants young people to mistrust the message that “everything will be fine.”
“That is clearly not true. There are many very, very worrying things: climate change, the extinction of species… ”.
And there is much work ahead: “We must do something that was never achieved in peacetime, we must completely revolutionize and transform our entire economy in just a couple of decades.”
“What you can have is hope, something that is very different from optimism,” said Bregman.
“Hope includes the possibility of change. It is what drives you to act and be part of the solution.”
“And there are many reasons to hope. Let’s think about the last five years.”
“We have seen the largest climate justice movement in history, fired by a 16-year-old Swedish teenager. We have seen the huge protests against racism in the United States, the largest in my life …”
“The spirit of these times is changing and we are entering a different era, both in science and in society,” said the historian.
“Our secret superpower as a species is to cooperate, and that is happening right now.”
“Cynicism is obsolete. It is the era of hope ”.
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