The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements

Imagine a world where the present feels unbearable yet the future gleams with the promise of transformation. This is the fertile ground where mass movements take root. It is not merely the poor or oppressed who fuel these movements, but also those who possess power and hope, united by a burning desire for change. From the landowners who drove off tenants in 17th-century England to the industrialists who ignited the Industrial Revolution, history shows that hope and faith in a better future can inspire even the privileged to embrace radical change. Fear of the future breeds conservatism, anchoring people to the status quo, while faith in the future propels the restless forward.

Consider the paradox of the abjectly poor, whose struggle for survival leaves little room for revolutionary fervor, contrasted with the 'new poor' who carry the memory of better times and thus burn with frustration and hope. This dynamic illustrates that hope is the spark that ignites action, while mere discontent is insufficient. When people believe in their power and the imminence of change, they act recklessly and passionately, ready to reshape their world.

Whether it was the fervor of the French revolutionaries inspired by reason or the Nazis’ electrifying conviction in new techniques and leadership, the common thread is an extravagant hope that overshadows fear and doubt. Even the most sober progressives rely on a faith in science and human nature’s goodness, a defiant belief that tomorrow holds the keys to salvation. This hope transforms despair into daring, and the mundane present into a mere stepping stone toward an idealized future.

Yet, this desire for change is not a simple matter of personal dissatisfaction. It is a complex interplay of individual frustration, collective hope, and a shared vision of what could be. The readiness to embrace change depends on a delicate balance: discontent tempered by a conviction of power and a vision of the future. Without this, even the most dire conditions can breed resignation rather than revolt.

As this understanding unfolds, we begin to see why mass movements demand more than grievances; they demand a soul-stirring enthusiasm, a holy cause that can unite disparate individuals into a collective force. It is this passion, this shared hope, that transforms isolated frustrations into a powerful tide of change. Now, as we prepare to delve deeper, let us explore how mass movements offer substitutes for the self, drawing in those who seek to escape their own failures and find new meaning in collective identity.