Sead Alic

The Road to a New Totalitarianism Sead Alic

These texts offer new insights on some important phenomena of our times, at least this is the author's intention. The analysis of the concept of sacredness dissolves in secular forms of the 'sacred'. The idea of faith disappears in hypocrisy as the dominant psychological and social characteristic of the modern citizen who has been transformed into a consumer of mass media. Modern individual terrorism sheds a warning light on instances of state terrorism and the state as a significant source of totalitarian intentions. This work sees the philosophical roots of this misunderstanding in the insufficient insistence of critical thought on separating consciousness from conscience. History has revealed the futility of efforts to revolutionize consciousness if this process does not also include the revolution of conscience. In this sense the answer to Hegel's question is that revolution is not possible i.e., it will not be successful if it is not accompanied by a religious reformation. The opposition between freedom and tendencies suggesting we are surely headed towards a new totalitarianism, is discussed through using examples in the media, music, history and education..