How each individual can make the world a better place: Rutger Bregman

Many people are quite pessimistic about the future and feel overwhelmed. There are plenty of reasons for this at the moment. Be it the current wars, the rise of autocrats, the government crisis in Germany and Austria, the economic recession, the climate crisis with all its consequences or social injustice. But there is so much good news, positive developments that are happening quietly and almost unnoticed. And there is a worldwide movement of people who are fighting for a positive future, not just talking (or writing) about it. Among those who have a plan for change for the better is Dutch historian and author Rutger Bregman.

 

"For the first time in human history, we can wipe ourselves out, and not just with nuclear weapons, which we have created. ... But it could also be just the beginning of human history"

Rutger Bregman

 

"For the first time in human history, we can wipe ourselves out, not only through nuclear weapons, which we have created." But also through biotechnologies and artificial intelligence. But it could also be just the beginning of human history, explains Dutch historian, journalist and activist Rutger Bregman, who first attracted worldwide attention in 2019 with his input on greater tax justice at the World Economic Forum in Davos. There, he criticized the tax avoidance strategies of the super-rich and called for the important topic of taxes to be discussed more at forums such as Davos. He drew a comparison: "It feels like I'm at a conference of firefighters and nobody is allowed to talk about water."

 

 

He is the author of several million-selling, inspiring books such as the 2020 bestseller "Basically Good" and "Utopian for Realists" as well as the latest book "Moral Ambition", which coincided with the founding of the "School of Moral Ambition" in 2024. In his latest work, Bregman uses ambitious people who have improved or even saved the lives of many to show that it is possible to change and improve the situation as an individual or as a small group. This requires action, because democracy, equal opportunities and climate protection cannot simply be talked into existence.

 

We need action

"For many, many years, the educated elite have told themselves this fairy tale that progress is inevitable," explains Bregman. "That democracy would prevail worldwide. But what we are seeing now is exactly the opposite. All over the world, autocracy is on the rise. Trump has just been re-elected. I think what we need now is not another round of self-affirmation. What we need to do now is put our money where our mouth is."

 

Survival of the Friendliest

It is important to sharpen our focus and see the whole picture and recognize the positive aspects as well as the negative ones, which of course also exist. We focus far too much on the negative things, says Bregman. There is a term for this: the "Mean World Syndrome". People who watch a lot of news have a more negative view of the world and people in general. According to the activist, this is in the interests of the elites, the powerful. The approach that Bregman advocates in his book "Basically Good", namely that the friendliest people survive - i.e. "Survival of the Friendliest" - leads to a revolution in the existing political and economic system.

HERE is a wonderful article on Ö1 Diagonal about Rutger Bregman from January 12, 2025, absolutely worth listening to!

 

 

The power of change through people who take risks

In his book "Moral Ambition", the author uses surveys to show that 25% of all employees consider their job to be a "bullshit job", not meaningful and even harmful to society. In his latest book, Bregman also puts forward the provocative theory that most people are resigned to their mediocrity and explains in an interview with Radio Bayern 2:

"The anthropologist Margaret Mead once said that we should never underestimate the power of small groups of committed citizens. They can change the world - what's more, that's the only way to bring about change at all. Those are actually harsh words. Because she is also saying that most people do not change the world. Because they follow the rules and do what is expected of them. They have predictable opinions and predictable jobs. And never take risks. As a historian, I have always been interested in others: Why are some people able to change history for the better or worse?"

The author and activist explains what he understands by the term moral ambition:

"Moral ambition is the will to drastically improve the world. Dedicating your career to the big problems of our time, be it climate change or infant mortality, tax evasion or the next pandemic. It's the need to make a difference and leave something behind that really matters."

 

School of Moral Ambition - it needs "radical nerds"

Together with like-minded people, Bregman then set up a foundation that recruits people from top jobs and trains them to use their talents where they can make a meaningful difference. "We want to set up a team of brilliant tax lawyers, asset managers, bankers, corporate lawyers - who dedicate their careers to the fight for tax justice," says the historian. "Because it doesn't just need awareness people like me, but above all radical nerds. Nerds who know their way around every last legislative detail. At the moment, people like that are working for the bad guys. And we say to them: Don't work for Darth Vader, work for Luke Skywalker!" says Bregman.

"We'll pay you to quit your job".

After Amsterdam and Berlin, such banners will soon also be emblazoned on the walls of New York's Wall Street skyscrapers.

"We sometimes call ourselvesthe Robin Hoods of talent. We don't take money away from the rich and wealthy, but we do take talent. And we donate that to the most important fights of our time. And I believe this is just the beginning. We also want to win many people in Germany for our community," the activist explains to Radio Bayern 2.

 

Further recommendations

Two TV reports deal with Rutger Bregman. Kulturzeit on 3sat from 6.1. 2025 and the ARD report from 15.12.2024.

 

Link

Rutger Bregman