The Environments and Lifestyles of a Communist Future

Monica Waits (Drexel University)

Of the futures described by Frase, the one he terms “communism” is the most optimistic. This scenario imagines a society in which people can freely choose the projects and activities they find fulfilling. Frase elucidates Marx by highlighting that the ideal society in his philosophy would give everyone the freedom and opportunity to do what they love. This presentation helps imagine what a future might be if society can stabilize the climate, find sources of clean energy, and develop technologies to meet all of humanity’s day-to-day needs. Frase suggests that this narrative “dwells on the way we construct meaning when life is not centered around wage labor and what kind of hierarchies and conflicts arise in a world no longer structured by the master narrative of capitalism.” What emerge are questions of identity, and a focus on what experiences are most valuable, delightful, or meaningful. While “work” becomes unnecessary, social issues may not be eliminated as new value systems based on esteem or expression replace those based on wealth. The projects in this presentation highlight the creative expression and environmental experiences possible when resources are unlimited and opportunities unconstrained by hierarchical power structures. It is a delightful future—one worth imagining.