Peasant Life

I was born into the neoliberal era, under Margaret Thatcher. This new political ideology was based on deregulation, privatisation, and a reduced role for the state in economic affairs. This lead to increased inequality, concentrated wealth and power in the hands of a few, and eroded public institutions. Slowly but surely we are approaching a system resembling feudalism.

A small elite wields significant influence over politics, the economy, and society, akin to feudal lords.

Corporations are the dominant power centres, controlling resources, labour, and even governance.

The dismantling or reduction of the welfare state under neoliberalism has left people more vulnerable to economic shocks and less protected by social safety nets. This has created a dependency on corporations or private entities for basic needs, such as healthcare, education, and housing, mirroring the dependency of serfs on feudal lords.

The privatisation of public services and infrastructure has transfered control of essential resources (e.g., water, energy, transportation) to private corporations. This has lead to a situation where access to these resources is determined by "market forces" rather than public interest, creating a hierarchy of access based on wealth.

Neoliberalism's emphasis on reducing the role of the state has weakened government institutions and political accountability. As corporations gain significant influence over politicians, it has lead to a system where power is exercised by unelected entities, resembling the autocratic structures of feudalism.

The rise of precarious work, gig economies, and declining labour protections under neoliberalism has created a class of workers with little security or bargaining power. This reflects the feudal system's rigid class structures, where serfs had limited rights and were tied to their lords for survival.

While neoliberalism advocates for a smaller state, the state has not completely withered away. The state still plays a role in enforcing contracts, protecting property rights, and maintaining order.

Fascists argue that the state should be run like a corporation, with a dictator boss giving orders to his employees. Unlike modern corporatism, which refers to the collaboration between the state and private businesses, medieval corporatism was rooted in the guild system and other forms of collective association. Guilds provided social support to their members, including welfare for the sick or elderly and support for widows and orphans. Today's corporations are returning to this employee "benefits" system, as workers can no longer rely on the state to provide.

Fascists sought to restore what they saw as lost virtues from the medieval period. Mussolini adopted corporatist economic models that were loosely inspired by medieval guilds. Corporatism aimed to organise society into functional groups (e.g., workers, employers, professionals) that would collaborate under state control, reducing class conflict and promoting national unity. The Middle Ages were portrayed as a time of unity, order, and cultural purity. This romanticisation of the past was used to legitimise fascist rule by presenting it as a revival of a glorious pre-modern era.

My own fascination with the Middle Ages is an attempt to understand the world today. If we forget our past, we are doomed to repeat it.