How outrage and polarisation are reshaping Western democracies
From Outrage to Exhaustion: How Western Democracies Lost Their Cool
The French polemic Indignez-vous! (Time for Outrage!) became a global bestseller in 2010–11. A decade and a half later, we might need the opposite rallying cry: "Calm down!" Today, manufactured controversies have replaced reasoned debate—a shift that plays directly into the hands of populist parties and likely forms part of a hybrid warfare strategy by states like Russia, which sow discontent with Western systems through (AI-driven) disinformation campaigns.
Yet keeping a cool head—despite all legitimate criticism—remains a civic duty (and an even greater obligation for politicians). No, Austria's public broadcaster ORF does not need to be razed to the ground because its ousted director-general behaved disgracefully toward a woman. No, the state did not deliberately strip citizens of their freedoms during the pandemic (a favorite right-wing talking point)—though, out of fear and uncertainty, it did overreact. And no, despite the heroic efforts of competing rescue teams, the stranded humpback whale Timmy on the Baltic coast cannot be saved by human hands, however deeply his fate may move us.
A culture of outrage that reflexively condemns politics as inherently corrupt is making Western democracies increasingly ungovernable. Those who thrive in business would be mad to enter high-level politics, where the pay is lower, the blame is endless, and gridlocked coalitions—coupled with fear of electoral backlash—paralyze meaningful action. The alternative? Demagogues like Trump, who rise to power by flouting every political and diplomatic norm while pushing constitutional boundaries to the breaking point.
Of course, both extremes should provoke outrage. But in today's overheated climate, only the loudest voices—not the wisest—get heard. Disgusted, voters turn away from politics and media alike, craving "good news" that, unfortunately, is in short supply—especially in affluent but downwardly mobile societies like Austria, where the risk of social decline looms large.
So how do we break the cycle? With bold leadership that governs with both heart and reason—doing what is necessary while weathering criticism. With a "social media detox" and constructive journalism that doesn't just pit conflicts against each other but seeks solutions. With a renewed appreciation for how relatively well-off we still are, even as deep reforms become essential to preserve prosperity. A functional state is built neither on outrage nor on ideological delusion.
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