As bold as we need to be! Left utopianism and its future

The recent defeats of Corbyn and Sanders were undoubtedly setbacks for progressive forces and their hopes for a new and better world. But should we now cast aside bold visions of the future as a result?

The left arguably needs its utopianism more than ever: we’re facing an unprecedented recession, a global pandemic and imminent climate crisis. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Our utopian imaginations are a key battleground of politics, and the Left cannot afford to neglect a vision for the future in favour of short-termism.

In this session, prominent activists and intellectuals will make the case for the continued importance of utopian dreaming, deisiring and planning - from ambitious provocations through to concrete policy proposals. Let’s be bold: we can’t afford not to.