Chapter 1: The Era of Promise

My grandfather often reminisced about a time when optimism for progress was palpable, even in Argentina, South America. This was a period when democracy and capitalism seemed to work hand in hand, heralding a future where wealth, rights, and freedoms thrived for all. Following the Second World War and lasting until the late 1970s, prosperity surged, and the portion of income held by the wealthiest 1% decreased. It genuinely appeared that the rising tide was lifting all boats.

What fueled this remarkable growth?

The emergence of social democracy was a significant factor. The devastating impacts of the Depression and the Second World War dismantled the wealth and influence of the elite, paving the way for John Maynard Keynes' redistributive strategies. With fairer wealth distribution, increased government spending, and a robust social safety net, those once living in poverty began to experience economic stability and purchasing power, creating what seemed to be a self-sustaining cycle of growth. These were the "glory years" my grandfather often discussed, spanning from 1945 to 1975.

The second, albeit less recognized, element was the more equitable distribution of colonial and postcolonial wealth. While the Keynesian period is frequently regarded as a time of peace and affluence in developed nations, it also witnessed violent resistance to decolonization and the brutal suppression of nascent independence movements. Significant events included the CIA-backed overthrow of Mohammad Mosaddegh in Iran (1953), the ousting of Jacobo Árbenz in Guatemala (1954), the assassination of Patrice Lumumba in Congo (1961), Suharto's coup in Indonesia (1967), Pinochet's overthrow of Salvador Allende in Chile (1973), and the military coup against Isabel Perón's government in Argentina (1976).

A common thread? The CIA orchestrated and supported these anti-democratic regimes, showing the Global North's disinterest in a more equitable wealth distribution.

Thus, the coups in Chile and Argentina became experimental grounds for the neoliberal policies later adopted by Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in 1979 and 1981. Guided by neoliberal economists, these Southern regimes liberated corporations from constraints, enabling them to exploit national resources without restraint. U.S. and European corporations took advantage of these nations, halting redistributive taxes and progressive spending, leading to soaring inequality.

These dramatic economic transformations triggered a series of crises, cleverly framed by the Global North as necessary actions to counter Soviet expansion. The reality? It was primarily about securing resources and asserting capitalist dominance. Those who dared to resist faced imprisonment, torture, or death—my grandfather included, kidnapped in 1985 but miraculously escaping.

Who posed the genuine threat? A Predatory, Sadistic, Tyrannical and Dehumanizing (PTSD) System.

While the Keynesian era represented a "golden age" of social democracy, it was also marked by brutal wars and rampant resource exploitation in the Global South. Both Chile and Argentina, along with numerous other affected nations, remain scarred and struggling to heal.

The sadistic brilliance of Neoliberalism lies in its creation of a global economic system so unjust and coercive that the wealthy can continuously amass riches, even in the most affluent nations. It promotes the idea that well-being is achieved through economic choices, reducing individuals to mere consumers instead of engaged citizens. The previously unbreakable link between economic growth and overall prosperity in wealthy countries has long been severed. The reality? The neoliberal era has seen growth slow to a crawl while ensuring that elites can perpetually benefit from an ever-expanding pool of resources.

For example, in the United States, the 1960s and early 1970s saw the poorest 20% gain the most from economic growth. However, after 1980, wealth began to concentrate from the lower classes to the ultra-rich. Between 1990 and 2020, the wealth of U.S. billionaires increased approximately twelvefold.

Similar patterns emerge across all major economies in the Global North. In the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), tax systems have become regressive: the wealthy pay less, while the poor pay more. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the ten richest individuals globally have doubled their wealth, while an additional 163 million people have fallen below the poverty threshold.

The neoliberal agenda has never focused on providing well-funded public services and economic security—instead, it aims to push workers to their limits, compelling them into ever-longer hours and increasingly precarious situations. This is a calculated effort to dehumanize relationships and devastate our planet, all for the sake of capital.

However, in spreading its ideology, neoliberalism has been alarmingly successful. Over the years, we've internalized its tenets, even blaming ourselves for systemic failures, becoming our own oppressors. Neoliberalism has infiltrated our consciousness to such an extent that we no longer recognize it as an ideology; it is seen as "Darwinian natural law"—an unyielding, non-negotiable reality. But what greater power exists than one that operates without a name, unrestrained in its ability to exploit workers, degrade ecosystems, adulterate food, create complex financial instruments, and impose exorbitant interest rates? Where is the liberalism in that?

The crux is evident: there exists a South for every North, even in the wealthiest nations. Hence, we require a strategy to escape this predatory system.

Chapter 2: The Need for an Exit Strategy

"We have made history today," declared Sultan Al Jaber, the president of COP28 from the fossil-fuel-rich UAE and chief executive of Adnoc, to fellow attendees.

History? Sure, if you consider the UN's 2023 Climate Summit's decision to activate the 'Loss and Damage' Fund as historic. The so-called Planet Wreckers—UAE, Germany, the UK, Japan, and the U.S.—pledged around $400 million to assist poorer nations impacted by climate change. The United States contributed a meager $17.5 million. Is this a joke?

Wealthy countries enjoy playing the role of savior, promising $100 billion annually in climate finance to developing nations since 2009. Surprise, surprise, they have consistently fallen short. Even if they had delivered, it's minuscule compared to the $3.3 trillion spent subsidizing fossil fuels—an industry that has averaged $2.8 billion in profits daily over the last fifty years while investing just enough to prevent political systems from transitioning to sustainable alternatives. Yes, they also contribute to accelerating ecological collapse and displacing communities.

You may negotiate with politics and economics, but not with physics. Despite Al-Jaber's assertion that there's "no scientific evidence" necessitating the phasing out of fossil fuels to keep global warming below 1.5°C, securing even a 50% chance of remaining below that threshold requires leaving nearly 60% of existing oil and gas untapped. To avert catastrophe, virtually all fossil fuels, including those currently in production, must remain untouched. Can you envision that happening under such "leadership"?

We need not speculate about where this trajectory leads—most regions of the world, particularly the more impoverished southern areas, are already facing grave consequences. Record-breaking heat waves, landslides, unprecedented hurricanes, massive flooding, devastating wildfires, torrents of meltwater, dangerously warm sea waters, submerged islands, annual droughts, and collapsing food chains are all signs of impending disaster.

We are entering the "whipsaw effect" predicted by scientists: moderate weather is giving way to increasingly extreme conditions. How can the affected and vulnerable nations ever recover? Just as they begin to bounce back from one crisis, another is sure to follow.

The stark reality is that many will either need to relocate or face extinction as current policies are driving us toward a projected 2.7°C (4.9°F) rise in global temperatures by 2100. Scientific models suggest that by 2030, 2 billion people may find themselves in uninhabitable conditions, and 3.7 billion by 2090. Rising sea levels could displace hundreds of millions more. To some neoliberal thinkers, this is simply the cost of progress. Meanwhile, individuals are blissfully lounging in pools while the world around them burns.

Our greatest crisis is not merely about climate change; it's the collapse of Earth's life-support systems, fueled by predatory neoliberalism. And no aspect of this Machiavellian strategy can succeed without extinguishing hope, convincing us that "there is no alternative."

Fortunately, history demonstrates that in times of crisis, there are always alternatives. Resilience and hope are ever-present.

Chapter 3: The Power of Narrative

Governments have expertly crafted a narrative suggesting that profound, systemic change is beyond their reach, leading us into a state of despair and inaction. They bombard us with a steady stream of hopelessness, eco-anxiety, and apathy. Yet, whenever the "free market" stumbles, these same governments rush to intervene, sparing no expense to rescue neoliberalism from its own missteps. They conjure funds out of thin air for problems they previously claimed they couldn't address, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, we encounter challenges demanding even bolder, more radical transformations. Impossible? When the U.S. entered WWII, it mobilized millions. The number of troops grew twenty-sixfold, and the civilian workforce expanded by ten million, including many new female workers. From 1942 to 1945, production of cars, household appliances, and new home construction was banned. Rationing was viewed as fairer than taxing scarce resources, and every conceivable material was recycled. The 'Patriotic speed limit' was set at 35 mph, with posters declaring: "When you ride alone, you ride with Hitler!"

So, what prevents us from addressing the most significant crisis humanity has ever faced with similar urgency? It's not a lack of resources, capacity, or technology. It's not fate; it's a choice, driven by a pervasive political mindset that convinces us change is unattainable.

And what's truly hindering us is a failure of imagination.

A New Story to Write: The Strength of Small Groups

From childhood, we have sought comfort in stories, using them to navigate the chaotic and contradictory signals in our lives. They help us make sense of the world. We crave narrative coherence over dry facts. Our collective human history is built upon the stories we share, from cavemen to emperors and deities. A compelling narrative cannot be replaced without offering a new, more fitting one.

For a narrative to resonate, it must possess structure.

In politics, just like in our beloved tales, there is a timeless plot that recurs because it is powerful and relatable. George Monbiot refers to it as the "Restoration Story": disorder plagues the land, caused by powerful, malevolent forces opposing humanity's interests. Yet, the hero or heroes rise to confront this disorder, battling those forces and, against all odds, achieving victory to restore harmony.

This narrative is familiar to us. It underpins the New Testament, the Lion King, the rise of Fascism in early 20th-century Europe, Harry versus Voldemort, and even Messi's World Cup triumph. Without a compelling restoration story to lead us, significant societal changes remain elusive. When we lack a narrative that elucidates the present or envisions the future, hope dissipates, and reaching our goals seems impossible. Yet, with the Fellowship of the Ring by your side, the unattainable becomes achievable, step by step.

This fellowship does not need to be vast: societal change can pivot on the commitment of just 25% of the population. Once this critical mass is attained, a dramatic shift occurs as the majority quickly aligns with the new direction. As research indicates, "The power of small groups arises not from their authority or wealth but from their commitment to the cause."

We require modern heroes to emerge.

We need a new narrative that resonates with diverse audiences, bridging political divides and captivating hearts and minds. It must be simple yet profound, grounded in scientific reality rather than personal biases. Furthermore, it must possess a compelling narrative that cuts through the noise of modern existence and addresses our deepest needs and desires. For this, we need the timeless structure of a restoration story as its backbone.

Edward Bernays once stated, "We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of." The power of storytelling lies not only in its ability to entertain; it can mobilize, transform societies, and restore balance to a chaotic world.

This time, however, the narrative must emerge from the heroic arcs found in the overlooked corners of the world, where these unsung heroes overcome insurmountable odds. It's time for the South to take center stage, illuminating the untold and ignored realities that seldom make headlines but desperately need a voice.

This may seem ambitious, but a new story awaits—one that not only captivates but can also ignite a revolution in thought and action.

And that's why I need YOU to help me write it. One word at a time.

Southern winds,

Ricky

In the first video titled "MPA manifesto launch live with Dempsey, Hodson, and more," key discussions unfold regarding the movement to elevate overlooked narratives and explore new political directions.

The second video, "Revisiting the Southern Manifesto: Blacklash 5/20/2021," delves into the historical context and contemporary implications of southern narratives in the political landscape.