From Now to Next

Abstract

The failure of political and business leaders to protect people against Covid-19 and its economic crisis, police violence and systemic racism, deaths of despair, climate change, and failing democracy has pushed millions into activism. This chapter suggests six broad goals that could unify the now often disparate movements seeking a better world: grow the public sector, strengthen democracy, confront the burdens that systemic racism and sexism impose, transform the conversation on taxes and regulation, focus on cities, and make science and technology public property. It also proposes practical strategies for building a more effective movement. These include making it easy to connect personal and social activism; talking about race, class and gender divisions in ways that highlight their role in weakening movements; and challenging capitalist ideas. Every generation has faced similar daunting challenges. Always some have found ways to organize for a safer future for humanity. Now it is our turn.