Foresight has something of the Gramscian phrase about the pessimism of intelligence and the optimism of will. 2024 has begun with an uncertainty that contaminates everything. The savage attack by Hamas and the criminal response of the Netanyahu Government are weakening Biden's chances of re-election, leading us to a disastrous November in which Trump can win again. And not only this, an anti-Semitic wave has been unleashed throughout Europe, which continues to grow and is permeating part of the left, by action or omission. In parallel, the European extreme right is gaining muscle day by day, with the possibility of making a splash in the European elections, in which it will be essential for the social democratic bloc to erect itself as a retaining wall against the romance of the European (and Spanish) People's Party ) with the ultras.
And despite the threats, there is something that keeps the flame of optimism alive. It could be said that Europe has been built precisely on this Gramscian drive. From the pessimism of intelligence born of the infamies of the 20th century arose the dream of building a united Europe. The desire that “never again” such destruction occur on the continent. Thinking about this I returned to Albert Camus. Throughout his extensive work he reveals unparalleled ethics and humanism. When he received the Nobel Prize, in a beautiful speech about the artist's commitment, he said: “Undoubtedly, each generation believes itself destined to remake the world. Mine knows she won't be able to do it. But your task is perhaps greater. It is to prevent the world from unraveling".
This weekend, thousands of people demonstrated in Germany over the possibility that the far-right AfD party will win the elections in several eastern länder in September. Just after a meeting between the AfD and neo-Nazis to study a plan to expel non-natives from the country was revealed. The protesters who took to the streets remind us that fatality can be avoided: for the moment they will not be able to remake Germany by tackling the causes that propel the ultras, but with their civic awakening they make us think that, although the omens are pessimistic, 2024 can end better than it started.
