Politics hates a vacuum. If it isn't filled with hope, someone will fill it with fear.
Interpretation
Politics requires a guiding influence, either positive or negative, and in its absence, it tends to gravitate towards fear.
This quote by Naomi Klein highlights the necessity of hope in the political sphere. It suggests that when there is a lack of optimism or positive vision, individuals or movements may exploit that vacuum to instill fear and manipulate the populace for their own ends. Hope serves as a protective force against despair and fear-mongering, underscoring the importance of active engagement in creating a hopeful political discourse.
In practice
During a political debate, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of hope in governance.
Because it is such a huge crisis, because it puts us on a firm science-based deadline, it's a once-in-a-century opportunity to build a better society and address raging inequality, create huge numbers of jobs, rebuild our public infrastructure. But, we can't do it unless we break every single rule in the free-market playbook. Which is why the worst people in the world all deny climate change.
Terrorism doesn't just blow up buildings; it blasts every other issue off the political map. The spectre of terrorism - real and exaggerated - has become a shield of impunity, protecting governments around the world from scrutiny for their human rights abuses.
Everybody that's trying to get anything progressive done in this country knows that the biggest barrier is getting money out of politics.
I think I would say that there is absolutely no way to reconcile an austerity agenda with climate action. Our political class needs to understand that the fight against austerity and the fight for climate action are the same fight.
I think the fossil fuel industry is genuinely freaked out by the combination of the price collapse, the divestment movement, and that fact that renewable energy is getting so cheap so fast.
As I was writing 'The Shock Doctrine', I was covering the Iraq War and profiteering from the war, and I started to see these patterns repeat in the aftermath of natural disasters, like the Asian tsunami and then Hurricane Katrina.
But if the laws are to be so trampled upon with impunity, and a minority is to dictate to the majority, there is an end put at one stroke to republican government, and nothing but anarchy and confusion is to be expected thereafter.
There are few ironclad rules of diplomacy but to one there is no exception. When an official reports that talks were useful, it can safely be concluded that nothing was accomplished.
Don't get mad. Don't get even. Just get elected, then get even.
For too long, too many people dependent on Social Security have been cruelly frightened by individuals seeking political gain through demagoguery and outright falsehood, and this must stop.
(A Foreign Secretary) is forever poised between the cliche and the indiscretion.
If there were Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, it makes it certain there would be a reprisal attack against the United States at some point.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.