Public lecture podcasts Professor Jonathan White: The Future as a Political Idea (IPR)
Feb 5, 2025
In this discussion, Jonathan White, a Professor of Politics at the London School of Economics, delves into pivotal themes surrounding democracy and our perception of the future. He examines how historical perspectives shape modern politics and the dangers of fatalism when societies feel future options are limited. White highlights the balance between urgency in campaigning and the necessity for long-term vision, while also addressing how concentrated power can lead democracies astray. The importance of imaginative politics over mere calculations is emphasized, suggesting a need for renewed citizen engagement.
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Future Thinking Requires Agency
- Modern futures thinking rose as people gained a sense that the world could be changed and was not fixed by providence.
- Thinking about the future presupposes a belief in human agency and possible change.
Progress As Structure
- The idea of progress functions as a structural buffer against overwhelming openness in the future.
- Progress can be framed as a quasi-law that reassures people that change has predictable directions.
Events Versus Processes
- Sudden events like revolutions or nuclear catastrophe reveal irreversible risks and undermine progress-as-law.
- Climate combines slow processes and triggering events that make long-term politics urgent and complex.
