Politics of Fear in the Era of Permanent Pandemics

COVID-19 provided an opportunity for the authorities of politicisation of fear that has been pervading and shaping public life globally, especially in the West, to the extent that a new form of life designed by the restrictions of pandemic became normal, even useful, for many. However, as a corollary to the rise of the politics of fear there emerged an exhaustion of belief in the principal ideologies and causes of the 20th century and, political movements failed to generate a positive view of the future.

Politics of Fear bred a fatalism, which resulted in the belief of “ ere is no Alternative”, which was formulated by omas Hobbes, urging the population to give up freedom in exchange of security formulated as “Public Health”. Our future need not be pre-determined by forces that are beyond human control and the virus should not shape our way of life. Contrary to the wisdom of public health entrepreneurs, the constitution of the future is not reducible to a defence against a threat to human health. In the end, the new reality will be determined by whether or not we see ourselves as the subject or the object of a changing world. As it happened in the past, crises and catastrophes may provide an opportunity for the creation of a better life for humanity.