Barcelona Metropolis

It’s no coincidence that recent years have seen a surge in apocalyptic dystopias in literature and film. Nor is it surprising that catastrophism and polarisation have seeped into political discourse, altering our perception of reality. The world seems on the brink of collapse. This mindset both fuels and amplifies the anxiety driven by contemporary changes. In the distorted reality of fiction and social media, everything seems to be in flames, influencing us as words increasingly lose their meaning, becoming ambiguous and contradictory.

We face two major sets of issues. On one hand, there are the material problems arising from Earth’s metabolic crises – such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, water shortages, urban crises and large-scale migrations – as well as those caused by technological changes that are reshaping our world. On the other hand, there is the fear and uncertainty these issues generate among the public, which enemies of democracy exploit to undermine its foundations. These two sets of issues are clearly interconnected and are most acutely felt in urban settings.

Fear of the future breeds nostalgia for the past. Yet, the world that reactionary discourse seeks to restore is not an idyllic Arcadia but rather a new law of the jungle where only the strongest prevail. The dynamics seem reversed: conservative and reactionary forces are increasingly anti-establishment, while progressive forces strive to preserve – whether it’s nature, the welfare state, or the legal and institutional systems that advance social justice. Freedom, equality, fraternity – what remains of Enlightenment values? We sense that democracy itself is under threat, fractured by the multiple divides of the present. Ultimately, it all boils down to a struggle between hope and fear.

The authors featured in the following pages delve into some of these issues. All of them will be participating in the Biennial of Thought, which, under the theme “The Day After It All”, will transform Barcelona into a stage for a crucial and necessary debate from 8 to 13 October.