Episode 1: From 1990s Optimism to Authoritarian Capitalism
In the first episode of this two-part series on transformative politics, futures, and hope, we revisit the political optimism of the 1990s and ask what became of the idea that “another world is possible.” What kind of hope shaped global civil society at the time, and how grounded was it in real possibilities for transformation?
The episode brings together philosopher and political thinker Thomas Wallgren and Professor Emerita of Futures Research Sirkka Heinonen.
Thomas Wallgren’s work focuses on democracy, transformative politics, and the structural conditions shaping political possibility. He has been closely involved with the World Social Forum and has written extensively on its significance, limitations, and the evolving nature of global political movements.
Sirkka Heinonen is a leading scholar in futures research whose work explores foresight, anticipatory governance, and the role of imagination in shaping societal trajectories. Her research emphasises how engaging with multiple possible futures can itself be a democratic and transformative practice.
Together, they reflect on the emergence of the World Social Forum, the political openings of the post–Cold War period, and the subsequent shifts in global power structures. The discussion introduces the concept of authoritarian capitalism and explores how contemporary political and economic developments may be reshaping and constraining both transformative politics and our capacity to imagine alternative futures.
The episode sets the stage for a deeper exploration of futures thinking, responsibility, and the possibility of hope in the second part of the series.
The Visions of a Better World podcast is available on RSS, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can also listen the episode on our website.
