Sociological Cultural Studies

Sociological Cultural Studies

The Debate Between Early Utopiaphobes and Late Utopiasts: In Search of a Solution

Document Type : .

Author
Assistant Professor of Political Thought Department Research Institute of Imam Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution
10.30465/scs.2025.51152.2973
Abstract
After World War II, several political thinkers examined the role and position of utopian thought in the formation of totalitarianism and concluded that there is an inseparable link between utopia, violence, and totalitarianism. In this article, this group is referred to as "utopiaphobes." In contrast, after one or two decades of silence, another group revisited the role and significance of utopia in thought and philosophy, emphasizing its ontological and methodological necessity. This article seeks to analyze and categorize the disputes between these two groups while addressing the question: How can utopias be preserved while avoiding their potential consequences, such as violence? In an attempt to answer this question, the theory of "realist utopia" in its various forms has been utilized. However, the solution does not lie in restricting utopian thought. Rather, by embracing the plurality and diversity of utopias and establishing a "democracy of utopias," one can harness their constructive potential. The research methodology employed in this study is descriptive-analytical.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 May 2025