The period we live in show a great return of classical confrontations : the return of rivalries like between the United States and China or the return of religious rivalries. The post Marxist world also shows the return of a traditional opposition which can be seen between Obama and Trump between reformists and reactionaries.
Misfortunately reactionaries are much better organized and dominant today than reformists. This movement was very strong in the 19th century which was a similar period to today. Compared to many centuries we live in a period of relative peace, with very important technological changes, which can be compared to the industrial revolution. However, at this time, the reactionary “bourgeoisie” was dominant, as can show the conditions of workers in factories or the growth of colonization.
Similar movements can be seen today where the oppressive “bourgeoisie” is returning. However reactionary ideas are very old. In Judaism for instance there was a great opposition between Hillel (a great reformist Talmudist) and Shammaï (a great reactionary Talmudist) one century after Jesus Christ. The opposition is very old between reactionaries, who are between the right and the extreme right and the reformist, between the right and the left. However progressist ideas are decreasing in many places, as show the rise of Trumpism or the extreme right in Europe. Misfortunately the excess of freedom led to threats to freedom. In the 18th century it was said that democracy has to go hand to hand with rationality. Today freedom often goes with lack of seriousness, as the amount of debt can show, and it is making extremist movements gaining ground.
Progressist movements have to unite more in this context. It include ideas of the right and the left. In a time of threatened classical values it is necessary the classical ideas to unite and collaborate more. However this engagement has to be international. To this extend languages are an important tool, as it has always been. Luther and Marx, both with very different ideas, stressed the importance of languages. It is the reason why ideologies can be efficient if they go beyond borders. It is the reason why new technologies can also be a way to make grow and improve these ideas.
These movements can include more shared events and collaboration around common projects. They can be linked for instance to politics or religions. They can also include literature or arts. It is the reason why these movements can be impactful with the new technologies and the ability to go beyond borders, but in the spirit to defend the classical values that brought so much. It is the reason why this engagement had to be both intellectual and in commitment (debates, humanitarian engagement…).
The observer 