The Canadian journalist, Naomi Klein, wrote in 2007 ‘The doctrine of shock’, a book in which she reflects the importance of social psychology to make unpopular reforms. “I fear the apocalypse and with that fear in hand we take measures contrary to your values“Juan Soto Ivars explains in finally wave zero, citing the spirit of this work.
The measure proposed by Brussels in the draft “Union preparation strategy” crisis situations to implement measures that, in other contexts, could generate social resistance.
“We have to be an eye Avizor with Russia, but more Avizor eye with ours,” adds Soto Ivars that he considers he understands this from a “rational” perspective, but that leaders consider that the population not. And more after a pandemic in which it was proven how the large part of the citizenship was obedient. And put an example. In Canada, it is valued to implement mandatory military service as other countries have done.
According to Klein, political and economic elites use moments of shock such as wars, natural disasters or economic crises, to promote structural changes that favor their agenda, often to the detriment of citizen rights. In this case, the narrative of fear and uncertainty generated by global risks (Pandemics, cyber attacks, climate crisis) It serves as justification to promote social control and discipline measures, such as the requirement of mandatory reserves in homes. A measure disguised as a precaution, but that in turn, sows a fear seed in citizens who, of course, do not perceive as something natural to have a survival kit in their homes.
While preparation against a crisis is a logical strategy, it can also be used to normalize a constant state of emergency, where citizens accept without questioning restrictions and new policies under the security premise. This fits with Klein’s idea that post -crisis fear and confusion can be exploited to reconfigure the relationship between the State and the population, displacing responsibilities towards individuals instead of demanding deeper structural responses.
