CORONA CONTROL
GENIAL DAGEGEN online. Curated by Robert Misik
On the occasion of Franz Vranitzky's birthday
In co-operation with bahoe books
CORONA CONTROL
After the crisis, before the disaster
Georg Seeßlen, Author
Franz Vranitzky, Former Federal Chancellor, Founding and Honorary President of the Buno Kreisky Forum
Moderation Robert Misik, Author and journalist
At the beginning of the pandemic, which will go down in history as the «corona crisis», there were still a number of hopes. The crisis would lead to greater realisation of the need for socially supportive institutions, greater appreciation for doctors and nursing staff and more solidarity among the population.
As a small by-product, it would allow the question of whether capitalism in its current form really provides the best world order, it would expose autocrats, make populism superfluous, increase the appreciation of
Revitalise culture and criticism, create a sense of social responsibility and an awareness of the fight against environmental destruction ... In short: along with the dangers, the crisis could perhaps also be a birthplace for new opportunities.
As time goes on, however, we must also say goodbye to hopes of a better post-crisis world. The bubbles of hope are bursting and it is becoming clear that the winners of the pre-crisis will once again be the winners of the post-crisis. The losers will have to accept further losses - all in the service of the «system».
However, it is possible that the tipping point has not yet been reached and that the opportunities for criticism and resistance in a crisis have not yet been lost for good.
Georg Seeßlen
born in Munich in 1948, studied semiotics, painting and art history and works as a freelance author, feature writer and film critic. His new book „Corona control“ was published by bahoe books in August 2020.