A Zeigeist is a term that came out of group/mass psychology. It’s defined as: the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time:
We’re going through a particularly nasty zeitgeist.
Where-as the sixties was defined as a period of optimism and belief that we could change the world for the better – to promote equality and tolerance – the 2020s is a time of populism and right-wing intolerance.
This period of time is defined by fear and pessimism breeding division and hatred. I believe it started with 9/11 and the whole wave of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism. It sparked a knee-jerk reaction – wars, division, fear.
That fear was seized upon and stirred up by populist politicians to create division and hate – out of which they could gain wealth and power.
That led to Brexit, Trump and all the other right-wing populists. It led to Putin and Ukraine, Cost of Living crisis and MAGA.
Instead of reaching out to solve the big problems that are affecting the world – gross inequality, massive global poverty, global warming, environmental crisis, the menace of a world war, we are withdrawing, putting up walls, impeding trade, creating a war on immigrants.
Wouldn’t it be better to spend the money on ensuring that nobody is starving so they don’t have to flee elsewhere?
To prevent wars so they do not have to migrate?
To solve global warming so there aren’t droughts, wildfires and environmental catastrophes?
To open trade so that everyone can prosper (not just the rich) so people don’t have to become economic migrants?
But no! The zeitgeist is being controlled by a wealthy elite in cahoots with corrupt populist politicians to maintain the fear, up the hate and division, so they can gain power and profit.
The Zeitgeist is one of selfishness and greed, isolationism and fear, hatred and war.
The poor are pawns to be blamed and pushed around.
We are building walls, expelling illegals and voting for Trump, Johnson, Farage, Oban, Modi, Meloni, Wilders, La Penne and all the other fear-driving populist fascists. We’re turning in on ourselves.
Meanwhile, all the fundamental problems (being denied by populists for their own ends) grow and grow.
Oh for a return to a caring, compassionate society willing to optimistically reach out to deal with problems instead of blaming others and sweeping them under the carpet!
Oh for a new Zeitgeist!