The Reith Lectures 3. A conspiracy of decency
58 snips
Dec 9, 2025 
Rutger Bregman, a Dutch historian and thought leader, dives into moral revolutions and the call for a "conspiracy of decency." He reflects on how ordinary people can create impactful change, illustrated through the inspiring Danish rescue of Jewish citizens in 1943. Bregman champions ideas like Universal Basic Income and fair taxation, urging a collective effort for a better society. He emphasizes patience in advocacy, the need for bolstered public service, and the importance of enjoyable social change for lasting impact.
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Danish Rescue Network
- Danish citizens organized secret escape routes and ferried almost all Jews to safety on 1 October 1943.
- Their coordinated, ordinary acts saved nearly 99% of Danish Jews during the Nazi raid.
Fabians Born From A Ghost Hunt
- The Fabian Society began from a Notting Hill ghost-hunting conversation in the 1880s that turned political.
- Their manifesto later became the blueprint for the modern welfare state.
Slow Strategy Wins Institutions
- The Fabians chose patience and slow institutional infiltration over violent revolution.
- Their tortoise strategy turned fringe ideas into mainstream policy over decades.
