Collecting Real Utopias—An exploration of the possible

Over the coming months, CUSP research fellow Dr Malaika Cunningham will be developing a monthly blog series entitled ‘Collecting Real Utopias’. The work is inspired by the writings of the sociologist Erik Olin Wright, who argued that optimism is necessary for the world to be transformed—we must believe other worlds are possible in order to change it. We cannot face the oppressive forces of capitalism with only an agenda of destruction; we also need desirable, viable, and achievable alternative visions for society.

Wright acknowledges the contradiction within his concept of ‘real utopias’ and embraces “this tension between dreams and practice”. He argues that rather than using utopias as the wholesale re-imagining of society at large, we can seek out and learn from smaller, more specific utopian endeavours which are already out there in the world. These projects represent fissures within consumer capitalism and by understanding, expanding, and supporting them, we can collectively oppose and re-build harmful social structures. 

Each blog will offer a case study of a real utopian project occurring right now. As a series, it seeks to begin to put together what a just and sustainable utopia might look like. These projects do not only give us ideas, they also give us energy and optimism, and a sense of solidarity. They remind us that we are not alone in our desire to change the world and show us that, across the world, in small and larger ways, this change has already begun.

We recommend beginning with the introductory blog, which offers more detail on the background and motivations of this series. → Read the outline blog. The developing blog series can be accessed below.