This is one of the reflections that summarized last Wednesday’s presentation of Alessandro Prandi’s novel “Letters from the Ministry of Fear.”
The power of dystopia lies precisely in this: it depicts a future that forces us to look more clearly at the present. The novel shows how power can build consensus not so much through coercion, but by stoking individual fears and transforming them into tools of control.
This reflection echoes the considerations I developed in my essay a few years ago, “Humanity is Heritage. New Narratives Against Fear.”
The problem arises when we choose to exploit fear instead of addressing its causes. When, instead of investing in inclusion, we reinforce opposition.
As Alessandro Rosina suggests in his discussion of migration policies, continuing to view migration exclusively as an emergency or a security issue means failing to understand its significance within the great demographic transition our country is experiencing. A far-sighted policy does more than simply govern migration flows. It builds inclusion, recognizes skills, fosters participation, and generates social cohesion.
And it is perhaps the most important challenge we face today: choosing whether to build consensus through fear or build a future through humanity.
