Today, we find ourselves at a tragic point in history that divides eras. I am writing this not because I am in Kyiv, where alarms are sounding and explosions are rumbling. Neither because I couldn't even imagine such a thing before. The whole world is at a tragic point in history because it is taking a humanity test for which it has not been prepared.
Western civilization shows its limits in upholding democracy, freedom, and human rights on the planet. These limits are rooted not just in the fear of a nuclear world war, but also in the unwillingness to be deprived of the doses of comfort without which the Western people cannot imagine their lives.
The modern Western world is sick with comfortomania. The religion of comfort has overcome the religion of freedom of the Spirit. This is what prevents people from sacrificing pleasure and enjoyment for the freedom and dignity of people living in authoritarian and neo-totalitarian societies, or in the neighborhood.
Neighboring countries with neo-totalitarian systems, which differ from totalitarian ones in their use of social networks and more elaborated masks of democracy, suffer the most. The Western world offers these countries its values, supports reforms, and when they find themselves invaded by their neo-totalitarian neighbors, expresses concern or delivers weapons that are morally and technologically obsolete. Political leaders demonstrate a combination of feelings: the unwillingness to lose the comfort of voters and their electoral favor as well as the fear of military confrontation, which they are afraid even in their heads.
I am not calling Westerners to completely abandon their way of life, which is the sum total of Western history, neither I ask their leaders to adopt entirely new mobilizing ways of interacting with each other and with the people.
I am calling for a new humanism that is no longer an ideology or a practice of supporting refugees, but is expressed in a flexible, effective, and wise understanding of the Other.
Most importantly, this new humanism must actually prevent and stop crimes against humanity and moreover, the war against humanity that is inevitably unleashed by neo-totalitarianism, a totalitarianism that grows out of authoritarianism in the age of the Internet and social networks.
The war against humanity is a systemic, ideologically and "morally" justified crime against humanity. It is justified in the mass consciousness, not only by radio or television, but by social networks, "popularly," "from below"... These are crimes against humanity elevated to the rank of legitimate and even valiant actions.
By preventing, exposing, and stopping the war against humanity, the new humanism confronts neo-totalitarianism, for which the lives of individuals and even entire peoples are nothing compared to the achievement of geopolitical goals and the affirmation of the "only right" values.